The Academy’s Crude Pink-Haired Martial Artist

Cough, Samaela spat out blood as she surveyed her body.

Her ribs were completely shattered. Her spine was broken. No, the bones of her upper body were all smashed. It was a miracle that her body hadn’t been torn in half.

Only then did she feel the pain.

The dizzying pain was so intense that it made stars dance before her eyes.

“Ugh…”

Blood and groans seeped through her tightly clenched teeth.

What on earth did I do?

She glared at the spot where Eliaernes had stood just moments ago. The battlefield, once teeming with attacks, had become a swamp.

Bubbling toxic fumes. Even now, the spears still lodged in the ceiling of the labyrinth, and the rising poison mist were thoroughly focused on one person.

Focusing… is that correct? Eliaernes is gone. Where on earth is she?

At that moment of realization, her eardrums burst with a pop sound. Then, Eliaernes appeared before her.

She lamented right in front of Samaela.

“I can’t believe I have to open the gate to Purgatory for a bug like you. I guess I’d better work harder from now on.”

Purgatory? What the hell does that mean?

Before she could understand it, the pain hit again.

Temples. Jawline. Bridge of the nose. Throat. Solar plexus. Clavicle. Cheekbones. Heart. Kidneys. Liver. Spleen. Spine. Eyes. Ears. Crown.

How many times, how many attacks am I taking?

Consciousness started to slip away. Thoughts fragmented.

Attacks were invisible. She couldn’t even perceive them.

No desire to live, no anger, no emotions at all. Eliaernes quietly pounded her like a butcher slaughtering a beast.

Whenever she moved her fingers to use magic, she was stomped on. If she tried to spill blood, her wounds were tightly squeezed to stop the bleeding. If she opened her mouth, her throat was struck. If she attempted to stand, her spine was broken. If she unleashed poison, her strong magic was shattered.

She knows better than anyone how to deal with a Mage. A Dark Mage.

Yet that doesn’t mean Samaela will die.

Poison Body. Her entire body was made of poison.

Even if she was torn in half, even if her whole body burst, she would revive.

Not only that; she was tough. Not even an upper-level monster could leave a scratch on her body.

But…

“Ugh, tough one. Definitely doesn’t seem like a human. However, you’re not a demon either. What the hell are you mixed with?”

What the hell is going on?

She couldn’t understand. Bones shattered, skin tore, eyes burst, tongue ripped out, neck twisted, and body crumpled.

Yet, just as much, she regenerated again. And the pain began anew. The one causing that pain, Eliaernes, continued her work with an annoyed expression.

Ideation? Manifestation. Eight-Headed Serpent. What is she doing? Amid the pain overwhelming her body, Samaela rolled her eyes.

The Eight-Headed Serpent was similarly targeting Eliaernes.

Swinging its tail, trying to bite with its jaws, attempting to spout poison, and smashing down with its jaw.

Yet, why, why could Eliaernes still attack her?

She couldn’t see it with her own eyes.

She shifted her gaze. The Eight-Headed Serpent. Only then did she finally see it.

When its tail swung, Eliaernes would kick her leg. When it tried to bite, she would push it back with a kick. This made it impossible for the serpent to spit poison.

Its jaws were forced shut. Eventually, it tried to swing its head, but it was blocked by her tiny fist.

Eight heads. Eight tails.

Sixteen limbs. Attacking Samaela with nothing but a pair of arms and legs.

Moreover, it was hard to even follow that movement with her eyes.

An 8th Circle mage, getting beaten up by merely a 5th Rank martial artist.

Crack – The regenerated lips got bitten. They quickly shattered again from another hit. But the anger igniting within her mind devoured the pain.

How long has it been since I felt this anger? How long has it been since I’ve had to use this much power?

I never thought I would have to pull this out against this girl. If Muyeong were to come, this is what I saved to buy time.

She couldn’t express it verbally. Reluctantly, as her thoughts continued to flicker, she commanded the Eight-Headed Serpent.

“Devour me. I’ll offer you the sacrifice.”

The serpent complied. One of its eight heads, which had been focused on attacking, began to show a different movement.

Eliaernes noticed that change.

But she couldn’t stop it. No matter how overwhelming the situation was, she couldn’t do anything about that massive serpent. Blocking was the best she could do.

“You’re doing something strange again. Tsk.”

Thus, she devoted herself to hitting Samaela. She understood that her entire body was made of poison.

She understood that tearing, ripping, and shattering did indeed regenerate.

So how on earth do I kill her?

Just keep killing until she dies. Simple.

And that’s what I’m doing. I don’t know how many times I’ve done it. She keeps regenerating.

It’s not meaningless. Her regeneration speed has significantly slowed compared to before. Just a little longer, and it should be enough. Faster, more certainly.

Can I do it? I can’t guarantee it, but it feels like I can. Her body is performing better than I expected.

Deity.

Mana surrounded her entire body. Every time she threw a punch, a brilliant light shone. It seemed to shine perpetually, as if it would never go out, and she kept moving without rest.

Every time she moved, blood splattered everywhere. This one’s blood was also poison. She must avoid every droplet and kill her.

I can’t dodge all of it. I’ll have to give up some skin. The pain is manageable. Thanks to being poisoned by that unknown toxin, my pain and senses have dulled.

I don’t even know if my limbs are intact.

Yet, I can still move like this. It’s because I move the mana that permeates every muscle fiber, making them work together.

If the pain had hit me directly, no matter how resilient I was, I wouldn’t be able to move this much.

At this point, I think Samaela’s helping me.

“Hah…”

The breath I let out was hot. The taste of blood was rich.

What the hell am I doing?

Seeing, feeling, avoiding, hitting, moving mana, watching the results, controlling the deity.

Again, seeing, feeling, avoiding, moving mana.

It makes my brain feel like it’s melting, but if I stop, I die. I’d rather endure this than die.

In my past life, I fought worse than this.

That single thought kept me moving.

I also kept an eye on the Eight-Headed Serpent’s movements. I had to postpone any unnecessary actions as much as possible.

Just then, a moment passed.

From Samaela’s body, a hazy mist poured out.

At the same time…

“Damn it, that idiot!”

The sensations in her limbs returned. She could feel how badly her shredded body was destroyed, in every painful detail.

A wave of pain surged.

It felt like her nerve bundles were being shredded apart, piercing to the bone; it felt like a thousand needles were stabbing her flesh, and scorching skewers were penetrating her skin – the unbearable pain ruled her entire body.

Samaela retrieved the toxin that had dulled her senses.

Moreover, she extracted all the toxins within Eliaernes’ body.

And thus, the pain that she started to feel began to harden Eliaernes’ body for a moment.

Samaela didn’t let that opportunity slip away.

The Eight-Headed Serpent. Samaela’s ideation opened its jaws wide to devour her.

In agony, Eliaernes unleashed her mana, throwing her body sideways. At that moment, the serpent’s jaws clamped down on the spot where its master had just stood.

Crunching sounds of bones being chewed and gulping echoed throughout the chamber.

Eliaernes shook off the pain and gazed at the serpent that had just swallowed its master.

“Doesn’t seem like a suicide…”

The ongoing pain slowed her thoughts.

The ideation that didn’t vanish even after consuming its master.

Yet, it didn’t attack its master’s enemy either.

What is it trying to accomplish?

As she expelled two breaths, the answer came.

Offering.

The sacrifice was her entire body.

“…Damn it.”

Eliaernes grimaced, raising her left hand.

Though her left hand was already battered, she somehow maintained her blood path.

The path she held was breached.

What could result from that offering? What kind of oddity might spring forth?

If that were the case, how many more doors would need to be opened?

The second door. Perhaps even the third.

She grasped her ring and middle fingers.

What about the backlash? Can this weak body endure it? Luna isn’t here either? It’s fine.

Beyond that door, an elixir awaits.

If she somehow consumes it, or if someone feeds it to her, she wouldn’t die, at the very least.

She decided. She would boldly open up to the third door.

She would definitely kill that serpent-like woman.

Make sure she wouldn’t escape through the back door.

“Hah…”

She exhaled a heated sigh.

In that moment…

Thud. Thud. Thud.

From a distance…

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The sound of something being destroyed.

Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!

It started to grow closer.

Crash—!

And with that, the sound of destruction stopped just up close.

The Eight-Headed Serpent shuddered.

Inside, Samaela gritted her teeth.

How could they arrive so quickly?

Did they kill all the humans?

Surely, Muyeong isn’t the type of human who can do that.

Then how? I can’t comprehend it.

No, there’s no need to understand. The situation has already transpired.

Then…

Now it’s time to retreat.

At that moment…

Click.

The smell of blood wafted through. Whose blood? There was no way to distinguish it. Just the mingled scent of countless creatures’ blood wafted by.

Click.

The smell was bizarre. It felt alive.

The scent of fresh blood. It seemed to be still flowing.

“What is this…?”

A murderous intent. It pressed down upon her like a weight.

Feeling that murderous aura envelop her, Eliaernes contemplated.

I absolutely cannot win in this state.

Instead…

If I open all five doors… I will definitely win.

Consolidating the remaining four fingers together.

But she couldn’t bend them. Her body had stiffened.

Behind her…

The smell of blood loomed. When did that happen?

Gulp—. She swallowed a dry gulp. Turning her head, she gazed at the source of the blood scent.

First, a black uniform appeared.

A rough, stiff fabric. A uniform devoid of any patterns. The hand revealed at the sleeve was clad in blood-red gloves.

It wasn’t red; it was stained with blood and turned red.

She lifted her gaze. A white mask. A faceless mask.

“…Muyeong?”

The Nameless Captain, Muyeong.

She was looking at me, her murderous intent unwavering.

Is she an enemy? A betrayal?

Opening the blood path, the time it spread throughout her body was one second. Could she hold on during that time? No idea. Still, she had to try.

As she thought about twisting all her fingers, suddenly…

Whoosh.

Muyeong thrust her fist into the air.

A light punch. Perfect posture.

That path, that direction, that speed remained unchanged.

The Eight-Headed Serpent burst apart.

*

Seeing the meat scattering in the air, I was slightly, no, a lot shocked.

The Nameless Captain, Muyeong.

This human… might be at the very edge of 8th Rank…?

What exactly did just happen?

Still, for now…

“Hah… I was unnecessarily scared.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

Muyeong was not an enemy. She… had come to help me.

But then why the hell didn’t she withdraw her murderous intent?

“…Why? What’s going on? Could you drop the killing aura a bit?”

Muyeong tilted her head. Then she grabbed my face with both hands and pulled me closer.

Why is she acting this way?

Brainwashing?

Had Muyeong been bound by brainwashed humans?

“I’m not brainwashed, so let go.”

She tilted her head again. It was as if she were asking if I was serious.

“I really am.”

Only then did Muyeong release my face.

As if she were carefully trying to hug me?

“W-What? What’s this about?”

I jumped back in shock.

“Hey. This is sexual harassment. Don’t touch me. Even if you’re a woman, it’s not okay. I’ll report this. I’ll tell Dad.”

Muyeong trembled, touching her mask, and she sulked her head down.

Leaving Muyeong behind, I turned my gaze.

After the Eight-Headed Serpent burst, Samaela’s presence had vanished. There’s no way she could die so easily.

While maintaining the open gate, I scanned my surroundings.

Nothing… nothing was felt.

Did she really just die like that?

At that moment, my instincts felt something that my eyes couldn’t.

Bloodied… there was no need to take the ones who couldn’t finish their consciousness. So who’s left?

Stella.

I turned my head. There, faintly, a shadow appeared.

“Found you.”

Brightly, cherry blossom-colored mana illuminated. With a forcibly extended step, I moved greatly. In a moment cut into hundreds, I stood by Stella’s side.

“W-What? What’s going on—Eeeek!?”

I embraced Stella, who seemed dazed. I reached out my remaining somewhat intact right hand. With a firm grasp, I caught something. A bright smile appeared on my face.

“Don’t touch her. She’s mine.”

“W-What? Huh?”

Stella let out a confused sound, and the hazy figure flinched. In that instant, Muyeong charged in. My eyes couldn’t follow. Only a sharply honed instinct alerted me to it.

Thus, Muyeong reached out to seize that faint figure, aiming to kill Samaela.

Yet, she couldn’t reach it.

The back door opened.

“…What are you?”

The Samaela being pulled in through that back door glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

I couldn’t help but be surprised. Here I am, touching the body of Samaela, which even Muyeong couldn’t reach. Not to mention, I was tightly holding this bitch’s right arm.

“How many times do I need to ask?”

In preparation for the uncertain situation, I tightened my embrace around Stella.

“Ro…”

Oh damn, that almost turned into a disaster.

“Eliaernes Eustetia.”

I gathered all the remaining mana in my body and yanked down Samaela’s arm, which I was gripping tightly.

“Since you touched what’s mine, let this go.”

With a crunch accompanied by a rough sound, Samaela’s right arm was torn off.

“Just an arm is quite a bargain. It’ll grow back soon anyway, right?”

“You can look forward to it. I will definitely kill you.”

“You fool. Running away after getting mauled by a 5th Rank. You’re just all talk, aren’t you? Be quiet and scram, you pathetic bitch.”

“Ha, haha! Alright! Until next time, wait patiently and don’t die.”

With those final words, thud.*

Samaela vanished.

All battles were over.

The labyrinth began to disappear.

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