Chapter 158 – The Sword Lake (2)

RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE.

“What is that sound?”

As he watched the votes update on the screen, Speedweapon’s ears perked up.

At first, he thought it was thunder, but as he kept listening, he realized it wasn’t.

…That wasn’t a natural sound.

It was the noise of something crumbling. Something being destroyed.

The rumbling echoed over and over inside the voting center.

The ground trembled as if an earthquake was occurring.

Speedweapon slowly lifted his gaze.

The screens, hanging from the ceiling like massive chandeliers, began to sway dangerously.

Bzzz—!

Interference flickered across the image.

And then—

Thud!

They blacked out.

“Huh? What the hell? Why did they turn off?”

The cadets, too absorbed in the voting process, began to murmur.

Slowly, they started to tremble.

They still didn’t understand the gravity of the situation.

It was a primal instinct warning them.

“…What? Why is my body shaking?”

“…Me too. I’ve had chills for a while now.”

Anxiety began to show on their faces.

A wave of unease spread through the cadets’ expressions. The voting site was in an unknown state of chaos.

The loud noise they had been hearing suddenly exploded just as the voting venue was about to be evacuated. The floor, the walls, and the ceiling shook violently.

The screens trembled wildly and then suddenly crashed down as if a thread had snapped. It was too sudden. The cadets beneath the screens had no time to react.

A completely black screen burned into their retinas. That was the last thing the victims saw.

“Kyaaaa!”

Someone screamed. A cadet with a pale face pointed with a trembling finger.

“Ah… th-there’s a person…!”

From beneath the destroyed screens, a red liquid began to spill.

A metallic scent filled the air.

It was blood.

“Someone’s dead!”

Several cadets were crushed instantly.

Their bodies were completely mangled, with only their arms sticking out like insect legs.

Joaquin Academy trained heroes.

But deep down, these students were still teenagers.

Someone had died.

The classmates who had been laughing and chatting moments ago were now crushed like insects.

That scene alone was enough to freeze their minds.

Fear spread rapidly and contagiously. The voting hall turned into chaos in an instant.

Everyone was pushing, trying to escape. But in the midst of the panic, they only tangled with each other.

And meanwhile, the tremors didn’t stop.

Speedweapon stood frozen. It was like watching an apocalyptic movie unfold in real life.

Yet, that wasn’t what concerned him the most. The chills on his skin.

The numbness creeping through his body.

The malignant aura contaminating his mind.

That was what was driving the cadets to act like wild animals.

Even he was struggling to stay sane.

He felt as if something was gnawing at his brain, bit by bit.

Speedweapon shook his head to clear his thoughts.

After everything that had happened with the president, he had developed some sensitivity to magical energy.

That’s why he understood immediately.

This was magic.

He had experienced the power of the Demon Siren and the Bull King firsthand.

But this… this was on another level.

Superior demons, A-rank monsters.

How many beings in this world could be compared to trash like them?

It was easy to guess.

Because there were very few of their caliber.

“Uuurgh.”

Speedweapon groaned, feeling nauseous just thinking about it.

He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and, with vacant eyes, watched the hell unfolding around him.

Cadets were attacking each other with nails and teeth.

The closer they got to the doors, the worse their condition became.

Those who had already lost their minds had blank eyes and foamed at the mouth.

Speedweapon clenched his teeth.

It would have been better to lose control like them.

At least that way, he wouldn’t have to endure this terror while fully conscious.

Speedweapon shook his head again, trying to snap out of his thoughts.

He forced his rigid mind awake. These negative thoughts were also the magic’s influence.

“Focus!”

Suddenly, Speedweapon turned his head toward Kang Geom-Ma. He shuddered and flinched.

Of all the terrifying things he saw, Kang Geom-Ma’s expression was the darkest. To be precise, it was rotten.

Kang Geom-Ma’s eyes always remained calm and serene. It was rare for him to show emotions.

But at that moment, all kinds of emotions were reflected in his gaze.

And that alone made Speedweapon’s heart sink.

If the president was reacting like this, it meant the situation was beyond dire.

Speedweapon clutched his head with trembling hands. The iron will he had barely held onto was now contaminated and blackened.

Kang Geom-Ma gritted his teeth and spat out a curse.

“Shit.”

That single word. Was there any word that fit the situation better?

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

His palms were drenched in sweat.

“This is definitely the magical power level of a Corps Commander.”

Why had this happened? He had no idea.

The only “sign” had been the endless rain over the past few days.

Yes, the storm was abnormal.

But how was he supposed to know it was the harbinger of a catastrophe? This was absurd.

And the “why” didn’t matter anymore. Calamities didn’t need explanations.

Just like the descent of Commander Agor had happened without warning.

This one had struck out of nowhere, too.

In fact, this situation was even worse than Avalon Island.

“…….”

Kang Geom-Ma scanned the voting hall.

“GGGHHHHAAAAAA!”

The cadets, consumed by panic, clawed at the walls or vomited uncontrollably. It was the pressure of the enemy crushing them.

Their bodies and minds weren’t strong enough to withstand this magic.

Even the strongest students had collapsed to their knees.

Candidates like Leon, Kim Woo-jin, and Den Range.

All of them were gasping for air.

All except Kang Geom-Ma.

‘First, I have to calm this disaster.’

The chaos inside had to be settled first.

Only then could he go out and face the enemy. If the cadets tried to escape like this, they wouldn’t even recover their bones, let alone their bodies.

Beyond those doors was a demon with the rank of Corps Commander.

‘The first step is to calm the situation.’

Kang Geom-Ma closed his eyes in silence. He regulated his breathing.
Cooled his mind and chest through a mental exercise.

‘Stay calm and composed.’

Kang Geom-Ma closed his eyes. His breathing slowed.

He let his mind and heart grow cold.
And then, he poured all that control into his body.

He opened his eyes.

And in that instant—

[The Blessing of Transfer has manifested.]

BOOM!

Kang Geom-Ma stomped the ground with his right foot. At the same time, the blessing spread in all directions.

Whoosh!

From his feet, a pure white light expanded like a veil.

The light covered the entire floor of the voting center without missing a single corner. A soft energy enveloped the cadets.

The male students, who had been clawing at the walls like lunatics, froze in place. The female cadets, who had been fighting each other, loosened their grips.

The spirit of the [Blessing of the God of the Sword] was transferred to the cadets as the [Blessing of Transfer].

The madness consuming them was forcibly eradicated.

Kang Geom-Ma stepped onto the center stage.

Among the dazed gazes, he spoke in a calm, steady voice.

“Everyone, wake up.”

It wasn’t a shout. But his voice echoed clearly throughout the hall.

“As you have just experienced firsthand, this is not a simple earthquake. The enemy’s energy is terrifying enough to send most of you into panic.”

Kang Geom-Ma continued.

“I don’t know why it attacked this place. But judging by the level of magical power, it’s a monster far above the rest. It’s not surprising that some have collapsed in hysteria. But…”

“……”

“…You are cadets of Joaquin Academy. The future heroes who will bear the responsibility of protecting this world from demons.”

“……”

“Did you all fall asleep in class? They’ve told you this countless times. ‘A hero is someone who arms themselves and prepares for battle.’”

“……”

“But if you can’t even stand your ground, if you start trembling too soon, who is supposed to rely on you? Do you plan on making a fool of yourselves in front of those who see us as their hope?”

“……”

The silence grew heavier. Kang Geom-Ma looked at Speedweapon, who stood beside him.

“Speedweapon, you’re smart enough to understand the situation without me explaining it, right? Contact the academy and make sure no one leaves this place. At any cost.”

At those words, Speedweapon’s face turned pale.

“President… Don’t tell me you’re planning to do this again…”

Kang Geom-Ma placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled bitterly.

“If things continue like this, we’ll all die anyway. I don’t know what’s happening, but right now, it’s strangely calm. It’s only a matter of time before the enemy breaks in here. Before that happens, I’ll try to buy us some time.”

“……”

“Speedweapon, instead of worrying about me, focus on finding a solution. That’s your job.”

With that, he patted Speedweapon’s shoulder and jumped down from the stage.

With his hands in his pockets, Kang Geom-Ma walked toward the exit.

The still-dazed students stepped aside to let him pass.

As he moved through the crowd, Kang Geom-Ma clicked his tongue internally.

‘Shit.’

He didn’t show it on his face, but inside, he felt terribly uneasy.

It felt like a condemned man waiting his turn at the guillotine.

The enemy was a Corps Commander—its power was unquestionable.

He had no idea how they had managed to take down the Fifth Corps Commander, Agor.

Back then, he had just swung his sword as if he were possessed. The Swordmaster had been with him then.

But this time, he was facing an enemy that was probably even stronger than Agor.

And he had to survive 60 seconds against that thing.

He had been walking a tightrope ever since he arrived in this world.

He had been through many life-or-death situations since falling into this world, but today felt like he was walking through a field of thorns.

Kang Geom-Ma licked his dry lips and scratched the back of his neck. His nails dug into his skin.

Even so, he had to appear relaxed. Only a few minutes had passed since the cadets had regained their composure.

If he showed weakness here, those kids would sink back into fear.

If he had decided to act confidently, he had to maintain that image until the end.

Even if it meant facing a natural disaster with nothing but a cheap sashimi knife.

Step, step.

Finally, upon reaching the great doors of the hall, he slightly turned his head.

“Don’t do anything stupid and stay put.”

With that, Kang Geom-Ma walked out.

The cadets could only watch his back as he left.

***

I left the voting center. Just as I expected, the landscape was a disaster.

Everywhere, water covered everything. The ground was practically invisible. The annex building was the only thing still standing, floating like an island in the middle of the downpour.

On the water’s surface, whirlpools distorted the space.

I slightly lifted my gaze. The sky was an ashen gray. Lightning tore through the atmosphere, growling furiously and exploding in deafening roars.

I sensed a nearby presence.

I looked to the side and saw someone familiar lying on the ground.

“Chief Sung.”

“Ka… Kang Geom-Ma…”

Sung responded with barely a whisper.

When I checked his condition, I couldn’t help but frown.

He was in deplorable shape. He was missing an arm and a leg.

He had lost so much blood that his face was as pale as a corpse’s. The shadow of death completely enveloped him.

His lips, blue from lack of oxygen, barely moved.

“Cough… T-this place is dangerous. You must leave… quickly…!”

I crouched in front of him and asked:

“What happened here?”

With his only remaining hand, Sung pointed into the distance.

A figure floated in the air. It was a woman dressed in a hospital gown.

I narrowed my eyes to see more clearly… and I recognized her.

“Supervisor Ha?”

‘Was that her body…?’

This was completely unexpected. It wasn’t in any of the scenarios I had considered.

I didn’t have time to reflect. I simply stared at her.

Ha Na-Eun’s eyes were cloudy, as if she were trapped in the middle of a descent. However, at first glance, it seemed like the possession process was about to be completed.

As I stood there, Sung added in a trembling voice.

“I-I don’t know exactly what happened… but Supervisor Ha ended up like this… Cough.”

Chief Sung tried to explain the situation with the little strength he had left.

“She… she wasn’t that kind of person. Something must have corrupted her… Sir, please, I beg you… Save her!”

With desperation, he clung to my pant leg. His anguish was palpable even through the fabric.

Despite the fact that Ha Na-Eun was the one who had left him in this state, the only thing he cared about was his subordinate.

Even at the brink of death, the only thing that mattered to him was his subordinate.

I clenched my teeth. It hurt to see him like this, but I shook my head.

“Supervisor Ha is possessed by a Corps Commander. There’s no way to save her. And you, Chief, are in critical condition.”

I extended a hand toward him.

[The Blessing of Pain Insensitivity has manifested.]

[The Blessing of Regeneration has manifested.]

[The Blessing of Transfer has manifested.]

“T-this is… kh!”

“This isn’t healing. Your body is already too damaged. But at the very least, it should ease the pain a little.”

I activated three blessings simultaneously.

Of them, I only used The Blessing of Pain Insensitivity for four seconds.

Sung wouldn’t survive anyway, but at the very least, he could depart without suffering.

It was the only thing I could do for a man noble until the end.

Slowly, I turned around. A strange buzzing sound pierced my ears.

The noise was like nature itself wailing.

Ssshhh…

Ha Na-Eun, who was floating in the air, gently descended onto the water.

Her eyes, which had remained closed, opened. From her gaze, a blue demonic fire erupted.

Her hair and clothes swayed as if she were submerged in water.

‘This is some insane shit.’

She was no longer Ha Na-Eun.

She was no longer human.

“I’m glad to see you.”

Her lips curled into a smile.

Her voice flowed like a ripple in the water.

“My name is Vesna. I am Agor’s sister and the third-in-command of the Demon King’s Army. Tell me your name, insignificant insect.”

“Fuck… Of all the possibilities, why did I skip over the Fourth Commander and run straight into the Third…?”

Vesna’s eyebrows arched slightly.

“What nonsense are you babbling, scum?”

“Bah, whatever. Now that I think about it, do you demons also have an academy? Is that where you learn to talk with such superiority?”

I had no idea why I was spouting such nonsense.

I guess my pride was making me say stupid things.

Ching!

I slightly unsheathed Murasame and Eternal Frost.

The blades were halfway out of their sheaths.

That was all the introduction I needed.

Vesna’s eyes twisted with fury at the sight of my sashimi.

“So it was you, damn insect with a knife! You were the one who murdered my sister!”

Her voice turned into a roar.

I tightened my grip on my swords and stared at her.

“The Fifth Commander Agor also bragged a lot…”

[Your Iron Will strengthens.]

[Your presence and words gain greater weight.]

[The Blessing of the God of the Sword manifests.]

I took a deep breath.

And with a twisted smile, I murmured.

“…Until I blew her apart.”

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《May the blessing of the gods be with you.》

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