Chapter 80: Unique Grade Symbol

External Stage. Amidst the fierce battle, a staff member quickly ran toward Yoo Han-beom and Kim Hee-ra and

shouted.

“The… the last student transmitted before the connection was cut has just woken up after losing consciousness. From

what I heard, they were the closest friend of Shin Jun-ho, who has now turned into something like a monster.”

– Tap tap tap!

Yoo Han-beom and Kim Hee-ra quickly ran toward the location the staff member indicated.

“Ugh…”

‘W-why am I here?’

It was Park Tae-young, who had just regained consciousness. The reason Park Tae-young was able to return safely to

this place was that, before Shin Jun-ho started going wild, he had attacked Park Tae-young and forced him to retire.

Park Tae-young, still dazed, turned his gaze toward the distant screen.

‘That… that’s…’

The screen broadcasting the interior of the stage showed Shin Jun-ho frantically rampaging. As Park Tae-young

recollected his memories, he quickly understood Shin Jun-ho’s intention.

‘Was he trying to prevent me from getting involved…?’

He didn’t know. It might have been due to him losing his senses, or maybe it was because Shin Jun-ho genuinely

wanted to protect him. However, the last look he had seen in Shin Jun-ho’s eyes, the one that seemed worried while

attacking Park Tae-young, kept nagging at him.

“Y-You’re here…!”

The three people who had arrived shouted at him. Among them, Kim Hee-ra started bombarding him with questions.

“Isn’t that bastard your friend? What the hell is he doing? Who ordered him? Did he go off on his own? What’s his

goal? Why is he doing this?”

Kim Hee-ra shouted loudly. Yoo Han-beom, after momentarily pulling her back, spoke in a low, but clear voice to the

visibly shaken Park Tae-young.

“Don’t even think about lying from here on. If you do, I swear on everything I have that I’ll make sure you can’t live

anywhere, domestically or internationally. Understand? Nod slowly if you understand.”

It was a short but firm warning. Hearing this, Park Tae-young trembled and nodded.

“Seems like you understand. Let me ask you this. Shin Jun-ho, there’s no way he’s rampaging there without reason.

What’s the real reason he’s doing this? Is it revenge against Hee-yeon? Terrorism? Or is it revenge against Lee Hyun-

seung?”

Listening to Yoo Han-beom’s words, Park Tae-young nearly spilled the truth about Shin Jun-ho joining hands with

Hileon, but stopped himself.

‘If I say it…?’

Shin Jun-ho, desperate to get his arm back, had gone to Hileon, offering his life in exchange for a new arm. Since

childhood, Shin Jun-ho had been a friend of Park Tae-young, and he understood Shin Jun-ho’s desperate feelings.

Always being a magician with one arm, he had to face frustration and mockery, especially from the same class, Yoo

Hee-yeon, who always mocked him as a half-crippled magician.

‘If I say that he plotted with Hileon and targeted Lee Hyun-seung while Hee-yeon was just caught in the chaos…’

Perhaps he could get away from this. After all, if he told the truth, Park Tae-young wouldn’t be directly involved. Of

course, Shin Jun-ho would bear the responsibility for the chaos caused by his desire for a new arm. If Park Tae-

young said that Yoo Hee-yeon had only been caught in the chaos, would Yoo Han-beom just let it slide? No, Yoo

Han-beom was infamous for his cruelty. Shin Jun-ho might not even get a chance to escape, let alone survive.

Park Tae-young recalled the last moment when Shin Jun-ho had forced him to retire to keep him out of the chaos.

‘Damn…’

If his lie was discovered, the consequences might be beyond what he could handle. The person standing in front of

him was none other than Yoo Han-beom, the infamous leader of the Artemis Guild. However, if he told the truth,

Shin Jun-ho’s life might be in danger.

– Stop

He paused for a moment, recalling the events that had taken place on the stage. During the time when multiple

people were gathering mana for Shin Jun-ho, some had raised suspicions.

‘Why are we gathering mana for Shin Jun-ho?’

‘Yoo Hee-yeon delegated all her authority to me. Pung Tae-ho confirmed it too.’

‘Yeah, I saw Hee-yeon ask for it herself.’

At that time, dozens of people had reluctantly agreed to gather their mana for Shin Jun-ho, under the assumption

that they had no other choice. Park Tae-young thought that if things went well, he might be able to pin the blame on

someone else. He then opened his mouth to speak.

“Y-Yoo Hee-yeon ordered it. She brought a strange artifact and said that using it would give me great power… But

after using the artifact, Junho’s condition started to deteriorate, and as you can see now, this is what’s happening…”

Upon hearing his words, Yoo Han-beom’s focus wavered, and for a moment, he stared blankly into the air.

‘Just how far are you going to disappoint me?’

Soon, Yoo Han-beom’s expression twisted into one of fury.

• KWA-AAAAANG -!

While Yoo Hee-yeon and Lee Hyun-seung were at a distance, Han Seong-gil began attacking Shin Junho.

Unlike before, where he had used a regular weapon, this time, Han Seong-gil wielded the spear of Longinus, making

his attacks much more threatening to Shin Junho.

Whoosh!

As Longinus’ spear sliced through the air, Shin Junho crouched to dodge, his body instinctively avoiding the strike.

Just moments ago, Shin Junho had been blocking Han Seong-gil’s attacks rather than dodging them, indicating a

significant change in the battle.

However…

• Skerk!

Han Seong-gil’s body was slashed by Shin Junho’s palm.

After several exchanges, Shin Junho began to understand Han Seong-gil’s attack pattern more clearly.

“Damn it…”

Han Seong-gil thought to himself as he gazed at the wound on his shoulder, torn open from the attack.

‘I’m not used to using this power.’

Thanks to the artifact Lee Hyun-seung had given him, Han Seong-gil was able to maintain his consciousness, but his

mind was already nearing its breaking point. Not only had he been stabbed by Longinus’ spear, but he had also been

maintaining the berserker trait for an extended period, putting his body under extreme strain. Fatigue was

overwhelming him, and it felt like his mind was slipping away.

Even though the berserker trait kept him from feeling pain, it did nothing to alleviate the physical toll on his body.

• Sweeek

Han Seong-gil raised his hand. It was much slower than before, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest, as

if it had been pushed beyond its limits. His entire body seemed ready to collapse.

But still, Han Seong-gil lifted his sword.

“Give up.”

Shin Junho spoke coldly as he watched Han Seong-gil, but Han Seong-gil only charged forward.

• Whoosh -!

Han Seong-gil dashed forward swiftly toward Shin Junho.

In response, Shin Junho began attacking with rapid kicks.

• KWA-ANG -!
• KWA-AAAAANG -!

While Han Seong-gil managed to dodge a few of the strikes, it was clear that it was merely a feint to mislead him.

• Whoosh -!

The real threat came when Shin Junho targeted Han Seong-gil’s palm.

The handstrike landed precisely to the left of Han Seong-gil’s body.

• KWA-AAAAANG -!

Han Seong-gil was sent flying through the air.

• Whirl -!

However, he quickly twisted his body and rushed back toward Shin Junho.

• Kuuuuung -!

This time, Shin Junho’s strike landed directly, slamming Han Seong-gil into the ground.

Shin Junho did not waste the opportunity and relentlessly began pummeling Han Seong-gil into the earth.

• KWA-AAAAANG -!
• Bang -!
• KWA-AAAAANG -!

Han Seong-gil continued to be beaten relentlessly by Shin Junho. The longer the battle went on, the more wounds

appeared on Han Seong-gil’s body, and his eyes began to lose focus.

‘How long… has it been?’

He didn’t know. He had been fighting non-stop, unable to tell how much time had passed or what the others were

doing. At this point, he wasn’t even sure what he was doing himself anymore.

• The mental fatigue caused by the berserker trait has reached its limit. The additional effects of the berserker trait are gradually diminishing.

Strength began to drain from his body.

• Cough!

Pain surged through his body as the effects of the berserker trait seemed to fade.

‘Damn it… If I hadn’t fought earlier…’

Han Seong-gil had activated his berserker trait during a battle with A-class soldiers at the occupied territory, and had

maintained it for an absurdly long time. There had even been moments when he had lost consciousness and used his

body and mind recklessly. Naturally, he wasn’t in a good state now.

Anyone could see that he was in a perilous situation. Blood began to pour from his wounds.

“You’re out of your mind. No matter how hard you struggle, no one will notice.”

Shin Junho grabbed the immobile Han Seong-gil.

• Thump

He then lifted him and shook him from side to side before slamming him back to the ground.

• KWA-AAAAANG -!

“That’s why!”

• KWA-AAAAAANG -!

“You should’ve never stepped in.”

• KWA-AAAAAANG -!

Shin Junho laughed loudly as he slammed Han Seong-gil into the ground.

• Whoosh -!

Shin Junho discarded Han Seong-gil like trash and walked over to him.

• Drip drip
• The berserker trait is being deactivated.

Blood began to pour from Han Seong-gil’s body. His body felt like it was being torn apart. His mind was shattering.

The agony was so intense it felt as if his flesh was being torn apart and burned. The effects of the berserker trait had

now faded, leaving him unable to even move.

With a swift motion, Shin Junho gripped Han Seong-gil’s neck with his hand. He stared at Han Seong-gil and spoke.

“You worthless insect. No matter what you do, no one will acknowledge you. You charge in with weak and pathetic

power, but to me, you look like a pathetic bug. Look around you. Who’s by your side? You’re alone. This is the price

for not knowing your place.”

• Cough! –

Han Seong-gil spat out blood and muttered.

“You’re alone too, you f*cking idiot…”

“But unlike you, I’m strong.”

Shin Junho murmured, watching the dark mana surging from his body.

“With this power, I can do anything. I’ll kill you, and then I’ll kill Lee Hyun-seung and Yoo Hee-yeon, all of them.”

“Pathetic bastard… In the end, because you’re weak, you rely on someone else’s power, then act like it’s your own… I

want to tear you apart, you half-wit magician.”

• Crackle –

At Han Seong-gil’s words, Shin Junho’s face twisted in anger. He tightened his grip on Han Seong-gil’s neck.

• Crack! –

“Shut the f*ck up! If you say that again, I’ll kill you right here. Say it again. I’m not some half-wit magician. I’ve

gained power! Unlike you, I’ve obtained real strength. If you don’t take that back right now, I’ll kill you!”

“You f*cking bug… Can’t even understand words… Half-wit magician…”

Han Seong-gil’s words made Shin Junho’s expression turn cold.

• Swift –

Shin Junho released his grip on Han Seong-gil’s neck and raised his arm. His arm transformed into a sharp blade.

“Die.”

• Whoosh! –

Just as Shin Junho aimed to pierce Han Seong-gil’s neck, a gunshot rang out from a distance.

• Whoosh! –

The instant Shin Junho felt the energy, he turned around, attempting to block the bullet coming toward him.

“Lee Hyun-seung has finally come to his senses. That bullet won’t do sh*t to me…”

Shin Junho focused mana into his arm, now transformed into a blade, and reached out, confident that he could block

the bullet.

Once this bullet was blocked, he thought, he could use the delay before the next shot to kill Lee Hyun-seung. But then…

“Huh…?”

• Thud! –

His arm, which he thought would block the bullet, was ripped apart completely.

“GAAAAAAH! F*CKING HELL!”

Shin Junho screamed in agony, his body writhing in pain.

• Thud, thud, thud –

Ignoring Shin Junho’s suffering, Lee Hyun-seung slowly walked toward Han Seong-gil. He spoke to him.

“Good job. Rest now.”

Han Seong-gil, now a ragged mess, muttered.

“I… I set it all up… Don’t take it away…”

Lee Hyun-seung listened to his words and responded.

“Sorry about that. Please just bear with it this time.”

Click!

Then, as he loaded his unique-grade, orange-glowing gun, he spoke to Shin Junho.

“Don’t think you’ll die easily. I’ll tear you apart and kill you slowly.”