I found myself facing the most terrifying nightmare.
I never expected to encounter an Elder, not just an A-rank villain. And one with such personal animosity toward me, no less!
I couldn't even curse. All that came out was a hollow laugh. It was so absurd. Could things possibly go this wrong?
"Why are you laughing?"
Would he believe me if I said I wasn't laughing with bad intentions? That thought almost rose to my throat.
The aura Elder emanated was, in itself, the aura of death. It might sound cliché, but there's no other way to describe it. The moment you face him, the only thought is, 'I'm dead.'
'...Pull yourself together. Nothing good comes from losing your senses .'
I bit my lip until it bled, trying to hold onto my rationality.
For now, the urgent task is buying time.
The students might not know, but the state ability users must have requested backup. If they recognized this as a villain ambush, help would be on the way. Given that Academy students were under attack, there's a chance Han Jiyoon might come.
"I didn't expect to meet you here."
I deliberately spoke in a voice just barely audible, to make Elder say at least one more word. I tried this thinking that any method to buy time would be good.
"It's annoyingly noisy."
This madman countered my plan in a different way. He suddenly crushed the head of a nearby fighting villain.
With that horrifying sound, the villain's body collapsed lifelessly to the side. Thanks to that, the state superhumans fighting him was covered in blood and brain matter.
The superhumans backed away with expressions that said, "What kind of monster is this?" Even the villains paused their fighting, as if saying, "Our Elder is angry." As a result, the frontline that had been gradually pushed back stalled.
Was that good? I found myself shaking my head inwardly.
What good is it if those villains back off? An Elder has appeared. Hundreds of villains wouldn't compare to a single Elder. He's a catastrophe in himself, someone who could commit mass slaughter with a smile.
Did this crazy bastard just kill a fellow villain to hear my response?
Villains are indeed different. I don't want to associate with them or hear their circumstances. Whatever their story, they're people who gave up being human, so how bad must it be?
"...I meant I didn't expect to see you ."
I didn't want to answer, but I needed to buy time. Support teams should be on their way. Until then, I had to wait. By any means necessary. Even if I had to put on a talent show.
"You probably didn't expect to die either."
...You bastard. Can't you at least engage in proper villain dialogue? Other villains babble on even when they don't need to. Why is this guy threatening me with his spear the moment he sees me?
"I have one question, if I may."
I was pretty impressed with myself for not speaking informally even in this situation. It's ridiculous to be so polite when the villain won't be filing a complaint.
"It seems you have business with me, so are you letting the people behind me go?"
Expectations? Honestly, I shouldn't have any. Yes, I shouldn't, but... Still, there's always the possibility. Maybe he'll say he'll let them go.
He even shattered the head of a villain who was continuing to fight. If I negotiate somehow, I might at least be able to get the students out.
"I'll kill them all."
But the answer that came back was the one I had anticipated.
- Activating The Third Eye
Warning – Dangerous Individual
Warning – Dangerous Individual
Warning – Dangerous Individual
The Third Eye has been continuously warning me. It's saying there's no way out of this. This is really bad. It's saying this is far beyond your level to handle.
To be honest, I think the same.
There's no solution in sight. Even Kang Minseong couldn't handle him. How could I possibly stop an Elder who's far stronger than the current Kang Minseong?
'No. It can't be done. Not in a thousand years. Yes, it's impossible, but...'
But if I back down because it's impossible, what kind of Gatekeeper would I be? No matter what, no matter who comes, the first step is to block them. Think later.
There's nothing complicated about it. Behind me are students. I even took on the role of the villain Gatekeeper to save them as much as possible. How could I be a Gatekeeper if I don't block someone threatening to kill them?
I briefly turned my head to check behind me.
Students and state ability users who had been fighting hard just moments ago. But now they all stood in a daze, with eyes full of despair.
In a situation where they couldn't handle the A-rank villains in front, an Elder, whom tens of A-ranks couldn't overcome, had appeared.
Not despairing would make you the crazy one. Anyone still holding onto hope in this situation has either lost their mind, or they're a hidden protagonist concealing their power.
'...Yes. This is actually better.'
This approach is better. If he'd said he'd let them go, I might have lost my resolve.
Yes. This is how a villain should be. This is fitting for an Elder among villains. And with him acting , I can also be more desperate.
Was that an unexpected response? Elder tilted his head. Though he still had his spear pointed, the eerie aura briefly diminished.
"Are you insane? Saying thanks here?"
"I'm saying thanks because I'm grateful. Thanks to you, everything is very clear now."
"What are you talking about?"
"So, what I mean is."
I exhaled and delivered my final words.
"You can't pass, you fucking asshole."
Trait activation conditions have been met.
Reassessing opponent's rank.
Rank adjustment – Unidentifiable
What's this "unidentifiable" now? Really, isn't this too much? Phew, I sigh as I face the Elder standing before me.
Target has not received promotion from Baek Seojin.
Recognizing the target as an examinee.
Trait activation conditions have been met.
Though the location is undesignated, evaluation is possible.
Thankfully, there was no issue with my traits not manifesting. Preparations are complete. Now all that's left is to do my job.
Kang Hana, frozen in place, speaks with a trembling voice.
Though she had been fighting so well until just now, things are different now. The existence known as Elder could subdue a Platinum-ranked student with just a glance. That's how enormous the gap between ranks can be.
I feel like I should say something. At least tell her "It's okay." But with nothing certain, I couldn't even do that.
All I could do now was just give her a smile.
- Gatekeeper trait is at maximum manifestation.
- All abilities have been amplified.
At least a slightly reassuring message appeared. Maximum manifestation, huh. Well, at least I won't die pathetically.
"I said, you fucking asshole."
...For a moment, I wondered if my provocation was too strong. Elder's eyes, which had sunk not just deeply but completely, were chilling.
I unconsciously gripped my sword handle so hard it might break. Without that, I might have lost consciousness from fear.
"That's the last thing that crazy woman said to me."
As Elder spoke, the world started spinning.
How, how can I handle this situation, how on earth am I supposed to handle this...!
Kang Hana clutched her head, not knowing what to do.
Until just moments ago, she had shown the composure of a somewhat experienced ability user. She hadn't been intimidated even when facing a B-rank villain stronger than herself. But the opponent who had just appeared was a monster of an entirely different dimension from such small fries.
'It's over. We're, we're all going to die.'
Kang Hana wasn't the only one reacting this way. The other Platinum-ranked students, all the students on the field training, even most of the state ability users showed clear signs of despair.
Except for just one person.
"You fucking asshole."
At those sharp words, Kang Hana looked at Baek Seojin, who stood blocking the way.
He had skill equivalent to an A-rank. But the opponent was an Elder. They were S-rank ability users called demigods. No matter how skilled Baek Seojin was, this was a battle he couldn't possibly win.
Yet he stood blocking Elder's path. With students behind him, as if saying, "Absolutely no passing."
In an instant, Baek Seojin vanished from Kang Hana's sight.
It wasn't that he moved or ran away. He had been directly hit by Elder's spear and was now spinning through the air.
Beyond that desperate call, there was nothing she could do. Meanwhile, Baek Seojin crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.
He must be dead. No one could survive that. How could anyone survive such a hit?
She had heard that even A-rank ability users would have their limbs shattered in one blow. There's a reason he's called the Spear Ghost. He's the very essence of a soul-devouring ghost.
She didn't know where such courage came from. Or perhaps it should be called recklessness. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. Kang Hana's magic had already struck Elder with a scream.
With a roar, Kang Hana's magic hit Elder's body directly. But there was no damage inflicted. Despite a direct hit, he was completely unaffected.
Witnessing this, Kang Hana sank to the ground.
It had been a blow with all her magic gathered, and the opponent hadn't even tried to dodge or block. Yet she couldn't even scratch him.
She was a Platinum-ranked student at the Academy, called a promising talent. She had been praised for already possessing skill beyond B-rank.
But at this moment, none of that meant anything.
Elder approached, dragging his leg, with his spear lowered. Before him, Kang Hana couldn't even flee, just sitting there.
After briefly looking at her, Elder carelessly swung his spear. Not towards Kang Hana's heart, but towards someone behind him.
"Where do you think you're going? The evaluation is just beginning."
Though his body was covered in blood from small and large wounds, the look in his eyes remained sharp, without a speck of dust.
Kwak Hyuk couldn't help but smile at the sight. Indeed, it was fortunate that he hadn't killed this man last time.