The Academy’s Deceased Ate It All

Ye-Eun stroked her forearm to calm her trembling body.

This was when the identity of the ominous aura she had been feeling was revealed.

The thorns covering Ji-Hyuk’s body had the aura of the World Tree, but it was much more sinister.

It was an eerie feeling.

And she finally understood why Ji-Hyuk’s energy was so weak.

The power he used came at a cost.

Svangali and Minerva.

Even from the sidelines, she could see his body breaking down the more he was involved with the Seven Evils.

It must be stopped.

She began to channel the last of her power into the arrow on her bow.

She wasn’t the only one who found it ominous.

Soo-Young was wiping the blood from her nose that had popped out from the side effect of her magic. Ye-Seul groaned from the pain coursing through her right arm and into her bones, but she only looked at Ji-Hyuk.

And Hyun-Woo rose from the rubble, clutching his broken sword.

Ivan called upon the power of the spirits, keeping his mana reserves high and ready to help at any moment.

Do-Hoon, who is on the verge of death.

Joo-Hyuk, and even Belluna.

They all felt his menacing aura.

Joo-Hyuk, who had noticed that Ji-Hyuk’s appearance had changed, felt it even more keenly.

‘His aura has also become more powerful, but….’

I feel like I’m looking at another Seven Evils.

There would be a lot to discuss after everything was over.

“Dear!”

Minerva stomped off the ground and launched at me, ignoring the others.

I reached out with both hands and tried to block her, but it was impossible to hold her in place when she had already gained momentum.

I could tell she was much stronger than me in pure brute strength.

It’s probably because the penalty lowered all of my stats.

It was time for me to grit my teeth and try to stop her.

“Dear, come with me.”

A pair of massive wings burst from her back, like those of a lesser demon.

And with a flap of her wings, it blew away those who tried to attack her, leaving a crater around us.

“Come on, we still need to get to the good part.”

[From your point of view, do you think it will be good?]

I pushed her horns away as he said that, only to find my locked hands with hers. Then, her tail wrapped around me.

Minerva soared into the air, leaving the group behind.

She held on to me tightly.

Just as I was about to pull out the thorn spear.

[An inner voice interrupts you!]

[The materialization of the spear is canceled].

(Fuck you all!)

As I flailed about, venting my frustration at the notification window that had popped up in front of him, Minerva hissed and spoke in a voice that sounded like she was scolding a dog.

“Ugh, don’t use bad words. Didn’t you say that to me, too?”

(Cut the crap and put me down!)

At my reflexive exclamation, Minerva smiled wryly and said.

“Yes, I will.”

(…Huh?)

And she did indeed let go without hesitation.

***

(ugh….)

I grunted as I smashed through a skyscraper, landing in the rubble.

I tried to create a swamp and portal with Henir’s Shadow as I fell through the air to escape, but Minerva kicked me in the back just in time to keep me pinned to the building.

[Do you need my help?]

(Please.)

I nodded at Svangali’s words.

(Do you think you could stifle that voice or whatever it is coming out of that damn Margo? Their interruptions are getting annoying.)

At my request, he replied.

[I can, but I’ll have to go deep into your mind for a while, and I won’t be able to help you even if you create the Thorn Bird. Do you understand?]

(Yes.)

[And here’s some information on Minerva.]

Svengali cleared his throat.

[The human form currently fighting you and the dragon form that is rampaging out there are both her body and consciousness. I don’t know how she did it, but she seems to have gained new ability…and they share status conditions and wounds with each other].

(So if one falls, the other falls with it?)

[That’s right. I was able to tie her up earlier because you intentionally caused the World Tree seeds you had planted to explode. Somehow, the seeds you planted in her dragon form were also in her human body. And when the seeds that had done their job faded, so did the seeds that had been planted in the dragon’s body].

I nodded silently.

What he was telling me was invaluable.

(Alright, that’s enough.)

[…I wish you luck, and I will now disappear to do you a favor].

With those words, I could feel the ever-present presence of Svengali gradually dissipate.

I waited momentarily in a strange and unfamiliar sensation and then used Margot’s authority Overlay. (TN: Changed from ‘The Other Side’ from Ch. 190. I changed it there, also.)

I overlayed the skills of my alter, who used the sword.

I didn’t have one to wield now, but he had close-quarters combat skills on par with Ye-Seul.

It could be said that it was the most competent version of me for the current situation.

I glanced over and checked my status window.

I could see the explanation behind my altered powers.

– You hear the voices of other beings within you. (You are clearly in control and have successfully brought them into complete submission…).

– Under the influence of another force, the voices that had been submissive and merely silent begin to turn against you for murdering and consuming them. They are malicious and manipulative and will attempt to sabotage you. (External forces are currently holding them back.)

It was as Svengali said.

At some point, the power of the Margo changed.

Was he really trying to overtake my mind?

Was it him, or were the powers overlapping, building up in my body, and reacting with each other?

I could only use two now, and if they started piling on each other, I would be in trouble…

“Do you have time to think of anything else now!”

I ducked to avoid Minerva’s sweeping tail.

She flapped her wings wildly, and the air filled with dust. It was impossible to tell where she was.

Henir’s Shadow to her feet in an instant.

Behind me.

I dodged her hand as it aimed for my heart and slammed my knee into her thigh.

Minerva stumbled back a few steps, shedding her half-shattered scales.

Then, with a giggle loud enough to be heard, she lunged at me with a rueful laugh.

“Yes, focus on me! Focus on me, only me! I will not give you a moment to think of anything else, my dear! Think only of me and focus all your attention on me!”

With that, she spun around and flicked her tail like a whip.

I timed it so that it met it with my knee and elbow simultaneously.

Then she let out a short groan and hastily retrieved her tattered tail.

(Where are you going? Come here, play with me.)

I grabbed her tail with both hands and for some reason, her face became angry and red.

“Where are you touching me, you naughty bastard!”

Out of the corner of my eye, something flew toward my head, and I ducked reflexively.

It took me a moment to realize that her wings passed over me, and right behind them, she flew at full force.

I couldn’t react.

Her shoulder slams into my chest.

Despite the lung-squeezing pain, I reflexively spun around and swung my leg at her throat.

I felt it connect, accompanied by a ripping sound.

“Oh, my clothes…!”

Minerva cried out in anguish and grabbed at her dress, which had been ripped down the side.

Biting her lip, she began to examine it.

Could it be that her body hadn’t grown?

As she thought this, she coughed harshly to catch her breath.

“…I won’t forgive you!”

With that, she lowered her head and pointed her horns at me.

I readied Henir’s Shadow and the branch of the World Tree, wondering if she was going to attack again.

However, contrary to my expectations, a beam of energy emanated from her horns.

It must have been a high concentration of magic power.

It was a brilliant red color that could be seen from a distance and spread in all directions.

This was not the kind of attack that could be dodged.

I raised my arms to protect my heart and head, but my thighs and shoulders were pierced before I could move them.

I screamed in agony as I was stabbed all over.

“Not yet, there’s still more!”

She swung her claws.

I felt a chilling premonition and threw my body out of the way.

A sharp wind passed by my side.

(What the hell, where did you get that?)

I muttered in disbelief as I looked at the sword in her hand, and she gave me a puzzled look.

“It’s a sword made from my body. I melted my bones for the hilt and hammered my scales for the blade.”

And she raised the clunky blade and pointed it at me.

It was a respectful gesture, like a medieval nobleman before a duel.

“Draw your weapon, my dear. Let’s tangle once more.”

[…….]

Without another word, I drew my spear.

This time, there was no interruption.

Without warning, her sword and my spear clashed.

Despite being made of branches, bones, and scales, they clashed with a violent noise and scattered embers. I used the clash to create distance between us.

“…This is it!”

Minerva exclaimed in delight as she dodged the spear I threw at her.

“Yes, this is it! This is it, my dear! I have waited for this day to clash with you, the only one I have ever recognized, with all that I am!”

(Then why don’t you just die while you’re at it…!)

“Ahaha, I can’t!”

Minerva burst out laughing.

But the spear I threw with didn’t return.

Minerva grabbed the spear with her tail and trampled on it with her feet.

“Take this!”

Her sword aimed for my heart.

I raised my left arm like a shield and smiled.

“What!”

She screamed in surprise.

Not only that, but she lost her grip on her sword.

Thanks to my new skill, Mirror of Counterattack.

Mirror of Counterattack is a defensive skill that uses mana to create a shield of magic.

More importantly, the mana shield could deflect an opponent’s attack.

(Now let’s get this over with.)

The spear transformed, gripping her ankles and legs tightly.

I created another spear and aimed for her heart in turn.

But it was deflected by her horns.

“Why are you surprised? It was the method you taught me!”

With those words, the red beam from earlier burst from her horns again.

I was too close to dodge.

Taking advantage of my momentary gap, she freed her legs, spun around, and kicked me.

(Ugh!)

The impact shattered the floor of the building, sending me crashing to the ground below.

“Hmph!”

She jumped out to where I was lying, and I barely managed to roll out of the way as she slammed down with both feet.

While still on the ground, I used my momentum to kick the side of her stomach.

Minerva stumbled back, clutching her stomach. It did more damage than I thought.

Only then did I manage to pull myself up and steady myself.

After a brief lull, we both stared at each other, catching our breath.

“Finally….”

Minerva muttered quietly as she lowered her hand from clutching her abdomen.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this, do you?”

(…….)

“I have never been so excited, not even when fighting Venus and Yuno…not when fighting the entire army of a nation, not when fighting the great hero known as the Dragon Slayer… there is only one opponent I can enjoy fighting against.”

Despite both of them having numerous wounds, Minerva was far from exhausted.

It occurred to me that Svengali had said that the only one who could benefit from a prolonged battle with her was Venus, one of the Seven Evils.

(Ha, ha….)

I could see why no one had made a guide to defeat her.

No one could.

While I was thinking about that silly thought.

“It’s still early. The night is far from falling; the sun is far from setting. The day is still long.”

She smiled.

“My dear, mingle with me a little longer. Tomorrow, the day after, the day after that. Always.

I gave no reply.

Then, as she stared at me, she spoke quietly.

“That armor of yours…you must have absorbed the power of Svengali and reconfigured it to suit you, right?”

(…….)

Minerva’s eyes held a hint of bitterness.

“As long as I use that power…You can’t call yourself a normal human being as long as you have even the slightest bit of the Seven Evils’ energy entangled in you because you’ll be bound by that curse for the rest of your life. I mean, look at you; you’re actually so far removed from a normal human being that it’s ridiculous that I’m saying this now, but I can’t help but worry about you.”

(…So, what are you trying to say, that I should just drop this form and become a pure human?)

“Of course not.”

Minerva let out a small laugh.

“I want to be one with you.”

With those words, her form began to change.

“I transformed into a human body so I could copy you.”

It was like this when I used the King of Thorns.

An armor of black-gray and crimson scales began to sprout around her half-human, half-dragon form.

“But now that you’ve become that…”

The scales wrapped around her body.

Even from a distance, their sharpness seemed to cut through her skin.

Before me was Minerva in the form of a dragon.

She paled in comparison to the beast that would be rampaging outside the building.

But I knew that it was much deadlier.

(What the fuck is the balancing team doing?)

I muttered to myself, reflexively raising my spear toward my newly empowered foe.