Chapter 54: Master of Hellscape Island (8)
As latecomers, Nell and I pursued the others.
With just our swords, we carved a path forward.
Nell, an instructor, observed me keeping pace.
My dance with Venus, cutting through monsters, was like a graceful performance.
‘It’s not just the sword. Even with a training blade, Evan would lack nothing. To think such talent came from the Lafard Family.’
I, too, found Nell surprising.
His skill surpassed the instructors I’d seen, by a margin.
‘As expected of the senior instructor. His movements are precise yet fluid. That’s not just training—it’s pure talent.’
I had the magic sword Venus.
Nell wielded a mere sturdy sword.
Yet, he cut through monsters effortlessly.
Our seamless synergy felled monsters relentlessly.
By the time we’d downed nearly a hundred, Bentram Fortress came into view.
“The fortress is in sight. The others have likely left. Let’s hurry.”
“Where’d they go? There’s no ship.”
“Before you came, the Head Instructor said they’d gather at the fortress, then head to the coast. The sea’s free of monsters. But since you were gone, monsters began migrating. That means more are at the outskirts than the center.”
“So they’re in more trouble than us.”
“Exactly. We need to join them quickly.”
With that, we sensed a chilling aura.
A massive monster appeared before us.
―Boom!
It was a Rhino, dubbed a living tank.
“Purrr!”
A horned beast, bull-like but distinct, it charged with ferocious momentum.
―Thud thud thud.
Nell launched a sword aura at the approaching Rhino.
―Ting!
“As expected, my sword aura isn’t enough.”
“Rhino’s hide is like steel. You need to envelop your sword with aura and strike directly.”
“I know. Let’s go!”
After a brief strategy, we charged at the Rhino.
We swung our swords.
―Slash!
―Slash!
Our clean movements avoided the horn.
“Purrr!”
The Rhino stumbled past us a few steps before collapsing.
Its wounds opened, blood pouring out.
“Let’s move!”
After felling the Rhino in one strike, we headed for the fortress.
‘But what was that chilling aura?’
I glanced back briefly, then quickened my pace.
***
As the barrier broke, monsters surged like a tidal wave.
Most were low-tier, but their numbers changed the game.
“Damn it! Why so many?”
Even the instructors breaking through the front shook their heads.
Without Everhart fighting fiercely ahead, advancing a single step would’ve been tough.
‘Thank goodness for the Head Instructor. But the monsters’ levels are rising.’
The issue wasn’t just numbers.
Initially, low-tier Kobolds appeared.
Then, slightly stronger Ghouls.
Now, Wyverns and Harpies emerged in the sky.
“What’s next, a Hydra?”
“Stop jinxing it and cut one more!”
“Some of us should assist the Head Instructor. Even he can’t break through that many alone.”
To speed up, a few instructors needed to support Everhart.
But they couldn’t, because of the servants.
“Instructor!”
Jaina called out to them.
“What?”
“All instructors should go help the Head Instructor.”
“But that leaves this area vulnerable!”
“We’ll handle it.”
“What? That’s too dangerous…”
“If we continue like this, we’ll be wiped out, or that black thing will trap us.”
Time was running out.
Everyone knew it.
“…Fine. But if it gets too dangerous, I’ll return.”
“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. Trust us!”
Jaina exuded confidence.
Trusting her, the instructors rushed to aid Everhart.
“Head Instructor!”
“Why are you here? If you leave, the main group—!”
“Jaina and the cadets are holding it.”
“The cadets?”
At that, Everhart slashed a Kobold and looked back.
Jaina was commanding from atop a cart.
“Hm! We can’t just idle! Full charge now! Everyone, draw out all your qi!”
“Yes!!!”
The instructors enveloped their swords with aura, cutting through monsters.
Meanwhile, as they fought, Jaina raised her voice louder in the main group.
“Jack! Where’s that mobility of yours? Don’t stay in one spot—support multiple directions! Elliott, take the front in place of the instructors!”
Commanding the cadets, Jaina built a defensive formation.
“Jerito! Watch the flanks!”
“Got it!”
She prepared to handle a threatening monster approaching from afar.
‘If Evan were here, he’d take down that Gargoyle himself. Or the instructors. But they’re stretched thin. I have to do it.’
The Gargoyle’s stone-like skin.
She wasn’t sure if her current skill could pierce it.
But impossible or not, she had to try.
It was the only way to survive.
‘I can do it. No, I must.’
Gritting her teeth, she charged forward.
Focusing, she tried to infuse her sword with aura.
She’d never succeeded before, but she attempted it in this critical moment.
Her resolve paid off—a faint aura enveloped her sword.
‘It worked!’
The aura was thin, but it didn’t matter.
It was enough to pierce the Gargoyle’s stone skin.
―Crack!
Her sword struck the Gargoyle’s heart precisely.
Some cadets watching were stunned.
‘She awakened her aura?’
No time for awe.
They had to face the relentless monsters.
To make matters worse, their feared scenario unfolded.
A high-tier monster appeared.
“Purrr!”
Behind the Gargoyle, a Rhino charged with ferocious momentum.
‘Damn it! Now of all times!’
With instructors focused on breaking through, leaving the Rhino unchecked would endanger cadets and servants.
Jaina shouted to a spear-wielding cadet.
“Karl!”
“What?”
“You’ve got a job. Jack, grab a shield and come here!”
Jaina pulled a shield from the cart.
“What’re you planning, calling Jack?”
“See that brute coming?”
“Guh!”
Karl belatedly spotted the Rhino.
Jaina calmly continued.
“Jack and I will block it. You stab your spear into its eye.”
The Rhino’s tiny, button-like eyes.
She ordered him to pierce that small target on its shaking head.
“You think I can do that?”
“No. But if you don’t, we all die.”
“Damn it!”
“Here we go, Jack!”
“Yes!”
Jaina and Jack rushed forward.
They angled their shields to deflect the horn.
―Scrape!
“Ha!”
“Hup!”
They pushed their shields, briefly fixing the Rhino’s head.
“Now!”
“I know!”
Karl’s spear pierced the Rhino’s eye.
“It’s—”
But the spear didn’t go deep enough.
The Rhino thrashed, shaking its head.
Jaina and Jack were pushed back, and Karl was exposed to the horn.
“Ah!”
At that moment, the Rhino split in half.
―Crack!
Evan and Nell appeared through the gap.
“What? You guys tried to take this down yourselves?”
“Impressive.”
The cadets collapsed in relief at their arrival.
“We’re saved…”
But I kicked their thighs, forcing them up.
“Saved, my ass! Get back to your positions! The ship’s here, but you’re not safe until you’re on it!”
“Alright, alright.”
Hearing the chatter as we approached, I quickly grasped the situation.
Despite my harsh words, our arrival boosted everyone’s morale.
“Evan’s here! Nell brought Evan!”
Though currently an instructor, I was known as the strongest cadet, and Nell was a reliable presence.
With this, everyone on the island was accounted for.
No more worries.
They sped up, reaching the coast.
“Damn! Monsters have already swarmed here!”
At the coast, instructors and crew were battling monsters.
The ship hadn’t launched due to the onslaught.
Everhart joined them, shouting.
“Prepare to launch! Everyone’s here!”
“Yes!”
The crew boarded, and sails unfurled.
Servants climbed aboard first.
‘Good. We’ll make it.’
There was still time before the black curtain fully covered the island.
Enough for everyone to board.
Then, a chilling aura enveloped me.
It wasn’t just me this time.
‘No way…’
Turning, I sensed something powerful approaching.
A red sword aura sliced through the monster swarm in an instant.
―Clang!
I raised my sword, blocking it head-on.
“Ugh!”
A normal sword would’ve shattered.
I redirected the aura upward.
‘That bastard!’
Gaiard approached from afar.
“Not bad, lowly species. Planning to escape?”
Gaiard, absorbing blood from a fallen monster, walked slowly.
Everyone but me was seeing him for the first time, yet they froze.
“V-Vampire.”
“How is that…”
They instinctively recognized it.
An entity beyond their level—a top predator stood before them.
“Damn it, it’s come to this. Step aside! I’ll buy time. Get on the ship, now!”
“What’re you scared of? It’s just a big mosquito!”
I spoke boldly but felt it.
This Gaiard was not the one I’d faced before.
‘What did he do? To grow this strong so quickly. Though it seems there’s a cost.’
Gaiard grimaced in pain, occasionally flinching.
Spotting this weakness, I moved to act, but Everhart grabbed my shoulder.
“Evan.”
“Head Instructor?”
“Get back. I’ll buy time.”
“But…”
“Now!”
Everhart’s roar.
He stood ready to face death.
I couldn’t trample on the resolve of a man so much older than me.
“You could die.”
“I know. But if my death saves everyone, it’s a small price. Go.”
I stepped back.
Everhart slowly raised his sword, drawing out his qi.
“Come, fiend…”
―Tad!
At that moment, I lunged forward.
“Evan, you fool!”
Just as Everhart had his resolve, I had one I’d held in my heart.
‘I won’t let anyone die to save me.’