Chapter 99: Battle of Hanseong-gil

• Whoooosh

The wind blew across the rooftop. Han Seong-gil had been skipping class since the morning, lounging up here. It wasn’t because he was in a bad mood or something bothered him. It was just that he felt restless.

‘The Berserker trait… So it really can be controlled.’

The Berserker trait, which Han Seong-gil had believed he would never be able to control in his entire life. Although it was temporary within the stage, Lee Hyun-seung had directly shown him a way to control it.

[The Origin of the First Knight’s Remnant Will]

When he held that artifact, for some reason, his agitated mind returned to its original state, and he felt like he could

regain his reasoning. He didn’t know what that artifact was or how it was made. But one thing was certain: the only

person who could create such an artifact in this world was Lee Hyun-seung.

‘Unbelievable bastard.’

There had been many attempts to control the Berserker trait up until now. Since it grew stronger the more blood was

shed, it was a ridiculously overpowered trait, meaning that if one could control their reasoning, they could have

explosive potential greater than anyone else. The experiments by those who wanted to use the Berserker trait never

ended, but the result was always failure.

Han Seong-gil had also thought he wouldn’t be able to control his trait. But that belief crumbled when Lee Hyun-seung showed him the artifact that could control it right before his eyes.

‘Geon-ho hyung…’

If Lee Hyun-seung made and further improved this artifact, Han Seong-gil would only grow stronger. If Han Seong-gil became even more powerful, he might one day be able to find the long-lost, abandoned Pung Geon-ho. Han Seong-gil firmly believed that Pung Geon-ho had been kidnapped by Hilleon in the labyrinth. If not, there would be no way for him to disappear without a body.

In truth, Pung Geon-ho had not been kidnapped, but had cooperated with them in exchange for ensuring Han Seong-gil’s safety. Han Seong-gil didn’t know this and simply believed what he wanted to believe.

It was far more painful to think Pung Geon-ho was dead than to think he had been kidnapped by Hilleon. Though the result was the same, the direction was entirely different.

How much stronger would he need to become to have the power to kill all the Hilleon leaders?

• Creeeak

Feeling conflicted, Han Seong-gil turned and entered the academy building.

“Ahhh! Save me!”

“Please, help!”

As soon as he entered, screams echoed throughout the building.

‘What’s going on?’

Han Seong-gil quickly assessed the situation. Strangers wearing strange masks were searching everywhere. They were threatening some students and, in some cases, fighting broke out.

• Boom!

The sound of an explosion rang out. Outside, instructors were firing spells recklessly to protect the students, and the principal could be seen among them.

Han Seong-gil saw this and turned to leave. It had nothing to do with him. There was no reason for him to fight with people whose identities he didn’t even know, just because they were fellow academy students. He thought calmly and rationally. But just as he was about to reenter the rooftop—

“You… damned b*tch. Do you want to die? Bring Lee Hyun-seung here! I’ll kill all of you unless you bring him!”

• Stop

Han Seong-gil’s steps froze. Without realizing it, he turned around. He then ran forward, grabbed the man shouting for Lee Hyun-seung, and stabbed him with his sword.

“Wh… Who the hell are you?!”

The Hilleon man turned around with the sword embedded in his back. Han Seong-gil stared at him coldly.

“You were talking about Lee Hyun-seung just now, right? I’m curious. Why are you looking for him?”

“You… You don’t need to know anything about that… h-how dare you…”

As the Hilleon man mumbled, Han Seong-gil twisted the sword lodged in his back. This caused the blade to rotate inside his body, making the pain much more intense and inflicting more damage than just a simple stab.

“Ugh…!”

The man trembled uncontrollably from the shock and pain. Han Seong-gil grinned and then slit his throat with a single motion.

“If you don’t want to talk, don’t. There are plenty of others who will spill the beans.”

The man’s severed head dropped to the ground. In an instant, all the Hilleon soldiers nearby turned their gaze toward Han Seong-gil.

Far off, Principal Choi Isul shouted urgently.

“Don’t provoke them! There are other students here, too!”

Choi I-seul couldn’t afford to attack the enemy right now. She had been blocking the attacks of the members of Helleon, who were trying to kill the students across the academy, using long-range magic.

Blocking attacks from much farther away than her line of sight, relying only on her senses, was almost a feat of divine

ability. It was clear that she didn’t become the president of Broad Academy at such a young age for no reason. She

was certainly demonstrating her abilities. Of course, thanks to her, there had been no casualties, but because she was

focused on defense, she had been unable to eliminate the intruders.

If the students were absent and only the instructors and Choi I-seul remained inside, the situation would have been much easier. However, fighting while protecting over a hundred people was nearly impossible. The students were all either in panic or fear, unable to see clearly. But…

“I’ll handle it, so don’t give me advice.”

Han Seong-gil, talking as though speaking to a friend, disregarded the president’s orders. He had no intention of listening to her. This was just part of his nature and personality.

• Tada-dat!

Han Seong-gil began to run forward. Some of Helleon’s members attacked him.

Lightning magic struck him, but he dodged by throwing his body sideways. At the moment he threw himself, blades rained down on the spot. He countered with his sword and kicked the ground, using the momentum to reach a wizard standing directly ahead of him.

“Tell me why you’re targeting Lee Hyun-seung.”

Han Seong-gil’s only goal was clear. Why were they targeting Lee Hyun-seung? To Han Seong-gil, Lee Hyun-seung

was an irreplaceable figure. The artifact, [The Will Left by the First Knight], could only be created by him. If the

Berserker trait couldn’t be controlled, revenge against Helleon and everything else would be impossible. If something

were to happen to Lee Hyun-seung at the hands of this mysterious group, it would be disastrous.

“You think I’ll tell you?”

The wizard trembled, but still spoke clearly to Han Seong-gil. Smiling, Han Seong-gil immediately thrust his sword into the man’s neck.

• Thud.

Another fell. Only then did the remaining members of Helleon seem to realize the severity of the situation, and more began to approach Han Seong-gil. Choi I-seul and the other instructors were shocked as they watched.

‘He… is strong…?’

Had Han Seong-gil grown stronger after fighting for his life in the Class Destruction War? His combat sense and

movements seemed to have improved significantly. At this level, even without the Berserker trait, he could easily

outmatch the movements of Class A members. If the Berserker trait was unleashed? Their level would be far

surpassed.

‘No, this isn’t the time to be thinking like this.’

She couldn’t afford to waste the precious time Han Seong-gil was buying them, so she shouted.

“All instructors, scatter and protect as many students as you can. I will focus on blocking the attacks targeting the students here. Please move quickly.”

Only the president, Choi I-seul, could deploy defensive magic to areas out of sight. They divided the tasks: she would protect the students at a distance, and the others would move in to bring them to safety.

The instructors quickly and skillfully began to move. Han Seong-gil, as though unconcerned with that, turned to face another member of Helleon and asked.

“Who are you? Tell me why you’re targeting Lee Hyun-seung. What’s your goal?”

But the members of Helleon remained silent, only aiming their magic at Han Seong-gil.

“Get out of the way.”

At that moment, a man wearing a black robe appeared from behind.

The man surveyed the scene with a look of irritation, then spoke.

“Even if you’re useless lowly idiots, how are you losing to some academy students? What a bunch of worthless idiots.”

He glared around briefly before sighing and speaking again.

“If it weren’t for the urgency, I’d never have to work with trash like you.”

Han Seong-gil, facing the man who had suddenly appeared muttering, spoke.

“You seem to have a higher rank? Tell me. Why are you targeting Lee Hyun-seung?”

The Helleon man pressed his head down and muttered.

“Tch… Now some insignificant guy is speaking informally?”

At the same moment, Han Seong-gil charged forward and spoke.

“If you’re not going to answer, die.”

Then.

• Tch!

The man caught Han Seong-gil’s sword with two fingers and coldly spoke.

“Do you want to die?”