The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 349: Ragnarok (1)

Chapter 349: Ragnarok (1)

Just⁠⁠⁠ after Kang Geom‑Ma⁠⁠ vanished into the‌ sky, the training‍⁠‍ field fell into‍ a sudden hush. He had disappeared without a word.‍

Instinctively,‍‌ they all felt that something grave‌ was unfolding, but‍ their minds needed⁠ a moment to‍ catch up—that’s cognitive‌ dissonance.

Everyone‌‍ reacts in their own time.

Those‍‍⁠ closest to Kang⁠ Geom‑Ma reflected that⁠⁠⁠ shock most quickly‍⁠⁠ in their eyes.⁠⁠

Ryozo,‍ the archer, reacted‌ fastest of all.‌

“…Evacuate.”‍

Ryozo‍‍ murmured, her gaze‍ fixed skyward. It⁠ was blanketed beneath‌‌⁠ swirling black clouds.⁠‍‍ Beyond that ashen curtain, something ominous‍‌ stirred.

Rumble…‍

The⁠ clouds quivered, as‌ though they could bear it no⁠‍ longer.

The⁠ tension was palpable.

***‍

Boom!⁠‌

Crackle!‌‌‌

Lightning⁠⁠‌ struck among the‍ clouds.

Each⁠ flash painted a silhouette of colossal figures—like giants atop‍‍‌ a celestial palace.‌

There‍‍ were two.

One‌ was, unmistakably, Kang‍‍ Geom‑Ma—Ryozo could tell‍‍ by the outline‌‍ alone.

But‍‌⁠ who was the‍ other?

It‍⁠⁠ went without saying.‌‍

Ryozo⁠ shouted into her‍‌ cell phone mic.‌‌

“Initiate‌‌‍ evacuation orders, now!”⁠

“Y‑yes,‍ understood!”

Across‌ the line, Choi‌ Seol‑Ah nodded furiously.‍

She‌⁠‌ relayed the command⁠⁠ to the Parsy⁠‌ Academy.

Moments⁠ later, she reached‌ Director Dante, stationed‌‍‌ on the far⁠ end of the⁠ field.

No‍ rest—he immediately ordered‍‌‌ evacuation blasts across⁠⁠ the entire camp.‌‌

Confusion among the Parsy‍⁠ contingent was clear‍ even from afar;‌‌ professors and guests⁠ alike wore perplexed‌⁠ expressions.

Then⁠ Director Dante’s voice⁠‍ rang out.

“What‍‌⁠ are you waiting‌‍ for? Move now!”⁠‍

“But…‌ you should explain—”⁠

“Explain what? The alert‍⁠ clearly warns of‌ casualties without evacuation!”‌‍

Impatient,⁠‍ brutal. The assembled‌⁠ were uncomfortable, yet‌⁠ had no choice‍ but to comply.

Kang Geom‑Ma’s sudden disappearance. The worsening weather.⁠ Any mind could⁠‌⁠ grasp the gravity.

Ryozo‍ watched as civilians‍ evacuated, then turned‍‍ back.

Abel‍ and Leon had‍ drawn their weapons.

Shing.

The‍‍ Lady of the‌ Sword, Abel, wielded‍ her twilight weapon,‍ which had once‍⁠ belonged to the‍⁠‌ Swordmaster.

The⁠‍‍ hero Leon held⁠ his resonant sword,⁠⁠ a symbol of good and evil.‌

Without‍ taking their eyes‍‌ off the sky,‌ they unsheathed their‌ weapons with precise movements.

After‌ looking at the⁠ sky, they looked⁠ at each other.⁠ In that brief‌‍ exchange of glances,‌‌ they were about‌‌ to coordinate their next move.

“Wait!”‍⁠‍

Yu‌⁠‍ Sein burst into‌ the field with⁠‍ an explosive jump.⁠⁠‌ Ryozo and Abel‍‌⁠ were slightly surprised;⁠‍ after all, the‍ saint usually had‌⁠ a fragile image.‍‌‌

But now, wrapped in‍ a radiance, she‍‌ appeared like a lightning bolt between⁠‌ them.

Ryozo‍‍ and Abel, feeling⁠⁠ betrayed without knowing‍ why, focused on‌‍ her.

“It’s⁠‍ good to take‌⁠ initiative, but right‍‍⁠ now you can⁠ only do one thing. For one⁠‌ minute, just that.‍ Before that, with‍ all due respect,‍ you’d only be‍‍ getting in Kang‌⁠⁠ Geom-Ma’s way.”

“Then…‌‍‌ you know what’s⁠ going on, Yu‌⁠‌ Sein?”

“I’m‌ the saint, remember?”⁠

Yu Sein avoided a long explanation. She‍⁠ didn’t have the⁠ same style as⁠ Speedweapon, who enjoyed‍‌ detailing everything.

“I’m⁠ not going to‍ tell you to‍‍‍ do exactly what‌⁠‌ I say. Not‌‌ everything can be‌ controlled. But this‍⁠ you must remember.”

With‌‍ a stern look,‍⁠⁠ she addressed Kang‍‌ Geom-Ma’s close friends.‍

“Do‍‌ you remember the‌ events we did‌ at the festival?”‌‌

“The‌⁠‌ capture the flag‍‌ one.”

“The⁠‍ one with Sköll‍⁠ and Hati.”

Yu‍ Sein nodded and‍ continued.

“When⁠⁠‍ those 60 seconds⁠‍‌ are up, act‍ as if you’re⁠‍⁠ following the rules from those events.⁠ This situation is‍⁠ like a League‍‌ of Le… you‍ know, something rule-based.”⁠

“What’s⁠ that…?”

Yu⁠‌‍ Sein was momentarily‍‍ stunned.

They⁠ had basically told⁠⁠ her “what’s that,‌‍ nerd?” to her‍ face. “This is why muggles…,” she thought, and clicked‍‍ her tongue.

“…Just‍ follow the rules⁠‍ of those two‌‍ events.”

“Understood.”‍

Ryozo⁠‍⁠ accepted without objection.⁠

It⁠ was an urgent‌ situation.

“It’s⁠ better to listen‌‌ to Yu Sein‌⁠⁠ than waste time‍ arguing.”

Too many captains sink‌ the ship.

“As⁠‍ expected from the‍ director.”

Yu⁠ Sein smiled brightly.‍‌

Ruuumble.

Gut-wrenching‍⁠‌ screams began to‌⁠‌ echo throughout the‌‍ field.

But‌‍ Joaquin’s group remained⁠‌ relatively calm.

‘Do‌ we just have⁠⁠ an exceptional recovery⁠ capacity?’

Not at all.

It was a matter‌ of experience.

They⁠‍ had spent their school years alongside⁠ Kang Geom-Ma.

And⁠‌‍ even after that.‍

They‌ had faced numerous‍⁠ emergencies.

Their‌ resolve had been‍ hardened. In fact,‌ they had gone‍‌‌ even further.

They‌‍ wanted to help‌‍ Kang Geom-Ma in‌ moments like this.⁠⁠

Whether‍ through social support‌‌ or personal power,‌ Ryozo and Abel⁠‍ had never stopped⁠ training.

And‌⁠ they weren’t the‌‌ only ones.

Leon,‌ Speedweapon, and the‍ others also did⁠ their part.

They recovered from the‌‍ impact immediately. Neither‍⁠‍ despair nor panic‍ helps in a crisis.

“Yu‍ Sein.”

They⁠‌‌ don’t look away‌‌ from disaster.

Even‌ when everyone else‍ retreats, they advance.

They⁠‍⁠ don’t follow the‌‍ ordinary path.

“Tell‌ us what we need to do.”‌

That’s‌ why they’re called heroes.

***⁠

A new slash across⁠ the horizon opened‌ in a space infinitely close to‍ the universe.

It‍⁠‍ was the scar‌ left by Kang‍ Geom-Ma’s cut.

Its‌⁠‍ sheer size resembled⁠‍‌ a boundary dividing⁠⁠ heaven and earth.‍‍

Kang‍‍‌ Geom-Ma lowered both⁠⁠‍ of his sashimi‍‌ blades and looked‌ up like a flash of lightning.

He⁠ had only severed⁠‍ the interference of‌‍‍ the suppression force.‌

The⁠ true form of⁠‍ the enemy still⁠‍‌ stood firm.

Whoooshhhhhhhhhh.⁠⁠

Amidst‌‌ a rain of‌ arrows, the Knight‌ of Conquest, Ragnarok,‌ exclaimed in awe.‍⁠

=You’ve‍‍ severed the interference‌‌ of the suppression‍ force=

“That’s simply my skill.”‍‍‌

=The‍ Power to cut‌‍ anything. That’s not‍ a power meant‌‌ for protection. Its‌‌ nature leans closer‌ to destruction than‌ to defense=

“Even‌‌⁠ a knife’s purpose⁠‍‍ depends on how it’s used. Don’t‍‌ criticize how I wield it.”

The⁠⁠⁠ old knight let‌‌ out a hollow‌ laugh, his face‌⁠ grotesquely wrinkled.

=Do‍ you truly not‌‍ know where that⁠ blade will end up pointing?=

“For‌⁠ now, it’s aimed‌ at you.”

=So arrogant. And yet,‌ with such power,‌‌ that arrogance becomes‌‍ all the more‌‍⁠ pitiful…=

At⁠‌ that moment—

Fwoooooooosh!‍⁠

The⁠‍ arrows, mere dots⁠⁠‌ in the distance‌ before, suddenly closed‌ in.

Their⁠ sharp brilliance made⁠⁠ the fur of‍⁠ Sköll and Hati‌ stand on end.⁠

— Grrrrrrr!

There was no time to lose.

Kang‌⁠‍ Geom-Ma used [Transfer⁠ Blessing] and boosted his [Electric Magic]‌ into Sköll and‌ Hati.

The⁠ shock therapy worked.‍ Sparks tore through‍ the air around⁠ them.

Just‍‍ before the wave⁠⁠‍ of arrows hit,‍ the wolves regained their momentum.

Kang⁠ Geom-Ma leapt from⁠‍‍ Sköll’s back.

He⁠ stroked the necks‍ of the two‍ wolves and said.‍

“Leave the arrows to⁠⁠ me. You two⁠ handle that ‘sun’⁠ and ‘moon.’”

— Grrr?

“Don’t‌‍ overthink it. Until⁠‍ recently, those things were shackles to⁠ you. Don’t you‍ want revenge?”

— Grrrr!

Sköll‍ and Hati bared‌‌‌ their fangs fiercely.‍

— Awoooooooo!

They let out a war cry and‌ split in two‌ directions, their legs⁠⁠ pounding the ground⁠ with power.

Lightning-shaped‍ wolves raced toward‌‌ the sun and⁠ the moon.

=You⁠⁠ think a pair⁠‍‍ of insignificant beasts‌ can interfere with the judgment of the Suppression Force?=‌‍

Ragnarok‌ barely raised his bow when Kang Geom-Ma had already⁠ stomped the air.⁠‌‍

The‌⁠‍ clouds beneath his⁠ feet burst as‌⁠ if they’d been shot through.

BOOOOM!‌‌‌

He‌⁠⁠ surged like a whirlwind—at a speed‌ too fast to‍⁠ track, overloading the‌‍ space around him.⁠

He had fully unleashed‍‍ his divinity.

The slash, charged with⁠ all his might,‌‌ exploded.

In a clash between‌‍ transcendents, no foresight‍‍‌ matters.

No‌⁠ mental calculation could‌‍ compare to the‌ sheer force of‍‍‌ a single strike.

Murasame⁠⁠‍ flared violently.

Space‌ tore open, revealing⁠‍ a milky interior.‍

Where‍⁠ the blade passed,⁠⁠ a cosmic color‍‌‌ emerged in a triangular form.

Whummmmm!‍‌‌

The‌ wind roared.

The‌ wounded dimension created‌ a suction force.‍

That‌ rift sucked in‌ the arrows of‍⁠‌ conquest and pestilence like a vacuum.‍‍

It‌⁠‍ couldn’t absorb all‍‌ of them, but⁠⁠ Yu Sein had‌‌ told him to leave the rest‍⁠⁠ to her.

So Kang Geom-Ma complied.⁠‍‍

Slash!‍⁠‌

His‌ arm drew a wide arc.

The‌‍ dimension bled a crude oil-colored fluid.‍ In return, the⁠ wave of arrows‍⁠ was completely swallowed.‌

Sköll and Hati deftly‌‍⁠ dodged the remaining‌ arrows.

With‌‌ the speed they‍ ran toward the‌‌⁠ sun and moon,‍ they’d arrive in‍⁠ moments.

=……=‍⁠

Ragnarok‌ was the emissary⁠⁠ of the suppression⁠‌ force.

Not⁠ being human, he‌‍ couldn’t express emotions⁠ with his face.‍

But‍ even emotions have‍‌ a scent.

Claaaaaaang!‍‍‍

Sashimi⁠‍⁠ blade and bow‌ clashed with a searing sound.

The‌⁠⁠ impact made the‍‌ clouds tremble.

At‌ the point where‍‍‌ weapons met, the‌⁠‍ eyes of the‌‍⁠ two transcendents locked.‌⁠⁠

“I‌⁠⁠ had my doubts.”‍

At‌⁠‍ a distance where⁠‌⁠ they could feel‍ each other’s breath,‍ Kang Geom-Ma widened‍ his eyes.

“If‍‌ the end of⁠‌ the world came⁠‌ as a literal⁠‌⁠ phenomenon, what would we do? I couldn’t just slice⁠⁠ the planet in⁠ half if hell descended suddenly. But⁠ seeing you appear‍ in human form‌‍‌ like this makes‍‌⁠ it all so⁠ much easier.”

=Arrogant!=

“You‍‍‌ were the one‌‌ who said I had that right.”‌

The‍ clash of powers⁠⁠ knocked the bow‌ away.

Kang‌ Geom-Ma followed up‍ with a flurry⁠‌‌ of slashes.

Crack!

A horse [1] bit‍ into Murasame to‌‌ halt it.

Though⁠ it appeared weak,‌ it was no‌‍‍ ordinary steed—it was the mount of⁠‌ the world’s end.⁠

But‍‌ a horse has‍ only one mouth,‌ while humans have‌ two hands.

Hii,‍ hihihihihing—!

That‌⁠ sound emerged from‍ the horse’s mouth⁠ as it let⁠ go of the blade.

Through‌ the vessels connecting‌‍‍ its head and torso, the enemy‍⁠ peeked forth.

Thwack!‍‍

Though‍⁠ its neck was⁠‌ caught, the horse⁠⁠⁠ struck Kang Geom-Ma⁠ with its front‍‌ hooves.

He‌ saw stars, shooting through the air‌⁠⁠ like a meteor⁠‌ from the ground’s⁠ perspective.

Kang Geom-Ma braked with⁠ a slash, planting⁠ both blades low.⁠

Space parted like lips.‌‍

With‍ the blades embedded,⁠‍ he stopped his retreat.

Then,‍ without looking, he⁠ hurled Murasame overhead.‌

With‍ a mere flick‌ of the wrist,⁠ he deflected every‌⁠ arrow aimed at‍ his crown.

Clink⁠‍ clink clink, the hollow sound scattered.‍ It was as‌ if a silence‌‍ spell enveloped him.

He‌ looked up.

Behind⁠‌ Ragnarok, a pair of hands the⁠ size of mountains‍ were drawing arrows‍‌ on a bow‍‌⁠ just as massive.‌

A chill breeze brushed‌ Kang Geom-Ma’s back.⁠‌

Just‌ their presence made⁠ the arrows feel‍ like they’d rip‌ the sky apart.‌‌

────────────!‌

The arrows shrank.

A mandala spun on‌⁠ their tips like‍‌ a twirling octopus.‌

Compressed‍‌ to the extreme,⁠ the arrows created‍‍‌ shockwaves simply by‍⁠ being fired.

A great disaster.

No‌‍ sound.

— Gungnir. [2]

The arrow, launched with‍⁠ spiraling waves, resembled⁠ a spear more‌‍ than a projectile.⁠‍

His‌ heart pounded.

Feeling‍ the thunder in‍ his chest, he‍‌ thought.

A force capable of⁠‍⁠ destroying the world‌⁠⁠ is approaching.

This‌ is my first real battle since‍⁠ awakening my divinity.‍

Is⁠‌ this tension? No.⁠

The‍ name of the‍⁠ emotion stirring his‍ soul was exhilaration.⁠

────────────!‌‍

Gungnir‌⁠‍ closed in.

The‌ curtain call that⁠ had dimmed the‍‍ field of vision⁠ vanished.

A red thread pierced his eye.

It‌ was meditation.

Tick.⁠

The‍‍‌ spiral is often‌‍ likened to the‌ law of the universe.

Because⁠ it twists endlessly‍ upon itself, advancing⁠ toward a final⁠‍ point.

Tick.‌

Universal‍‌ law is inescapable‍ precisely because it‌‍ is law.

Humans⁠‍ and gods alike‍ must bow before‌ it.

Tick.‍⁠

There‌ was no dramatic‌ motion. Kang Geom-Ma‌⁠⁠ merely flicked his⁠ sashimi blade with‍‍ his wrist.

At‍ the same time, he activated [Blessing‌‍‌ of Strength] and‍ placed his blade‌‍ on the cog‌ of the cosmic‌ clock.

A tiny gesture. But the resistance it‌ held back was‍ infinite.

Slash!‍‍

The⁠⁠ clock of the⁠ universe was severed‍ in a single⁠⁠ cut.

T/N:

(1):‌ He went from‍ being a “Donkey”‍‌‍ to a “Horse.”‍

(2):‌⁠‌ Gungnir (from Old‍‌ Norse Gungnir) is‍ the name of‌‌ Odin’s spear in‌‌ Norse mythology. The‌ spear is known⁠⁠ for always hitting‌ its mark and is a symbol⁠ of power, authority,‍‍ and protection for⁠‌‌ Odin.