Chapter 778: Week 12–13 PvP: Lowerclassmen’s Revolt (4)

Another [Circular Arena].

Seo Ye-in and mirror-image Seo Ye-in were pouring [Mana Rounds] wildly to the front.

TUDUDUDUDU!

Then, just as they were about to work their [Featherstep] twice as busily as usual, they tilted their heads and came to a stop.

“……No counterattack.”

∴ No……. opponent?

They had been exchanging fierce offense and defense until just now, only for their opponent to suddenly vanish.

Since [Dragon Eye] did not catch her either, it probably was not stealth.

So the two Seo Ye-ins checked the scoreboard.

[Seo Ye-in 56%]

vs

[Hwang Dambi -%]

Only then did they realize that their opponent had been rendered unable to fight and [Ejected].

At last, they lowered their mana guns and nodded.

“……Strong senior.”

∴ Not an easy fight.

“But we won.”

∴ We are stronger.

They too would have been rendered unable to fight if they had allowed just a few more effective hits, but they had managed to seize victory, however narrowly.

Against a third-year captain-level senior, without the [Rank Down] handicap.

Before long, Seo Ye-in and mirror-image Seo Ye-in walked proudly out of the arena like triumphant generals.

Then they immediately scanned their student IDs at the terminal.

“Next match right away.”

∴ Next senior right away.

“Prove strength.”

She had also been quietly curious.

How much she had grown so far, and how far her current skill would carry her.

If she defeated third-year captain-level and Discipline Committee-level seniors one after another, then even across all of Dragonslayer Academy, there would not be many opponents left for her.

But contrary to expectation, the opponent she was soon matched with was not a senior, but a first-year.

Still, it was not disappointing.

[Seo Ye-in vs Dang Gyu-ri]

“Special case.”

∴ First-year senior.

“Re-enrolled Gyu-Gyu.”

They had fought in the previous [Lowerclassmen’s Revolt] PvP as well, and by some trick of fate, they had been matched again.

Her gray eyes, rarely enough, burned with fighting spirit.

“Actually good luck.”

∴ Promising match.

To her, Dang Gyu-young was a kind of milestone and a wall she needed to overcome.

Because they were the only opponent on the Kim Ho Bus she had failed to defeat.

Zhuge Soso had somehow been forgotten.

But now that almost half a year had passed.

“Scold Gyu-Gyu.”

∴ True number one.

“……Possible?”

∴ ……Maybe?

Luckless and Fast-Luckless tilted their heads with uncertain expressions.

It was true that they had grown while steadily receiving support from Kim Ho, but the same was true of Dang Gyu-young.

Even if the gap had narrowed somewhat, they could not feel certain they had surpassed them.

Of course, there was only one conclusion.

“Fight anyway.”

∴ Challenge number one.

The match had been made either way, so all they could do was clash and see whether it worked or not.

Before long, Seo Ye-in stepped onto the teleportation magic circle and entered the [Circular Arena].

From the opposite side, her junior (not actually) appeared as well.

As always, with a fresh smile on their face.

“Hello, senior~”

“Gyu-Gyu.”

“I look forward to learning from you~”

“Me too.”

“Are you going to do it properly~?”

If she agreed, Dang Gyu-ri would remove the [Rank Down] handicap, and Seo Ye-in would make the replay [Private].

If she refused to accept [Private]?

Dang Gyu-ri was in a position where they had to hide their ability, so they would have to fight without using shadow-type skills.

Then in all likelihood, they would lose.

But what would Seo Ye-in gain by winning like that?

Rather, in the sense that she would be avoiding the match, it would be no different from forfeiting.

Since the stage had been set after so long, she intended to do her best.

So she slowly nodded.

“I’ll do it properly.”

“That’s how you should come at me.”

Dang Gyu-ri curved their lips upward in pleasure.

In truth, they had been looking forward to this match just as much as Seo Ye-in.

Just as second place yearned to surpass first place,

first place also always kept an eye on second.

Outstanding combat power was one of Dang Gyu-ri’s strengths.

It was also the reason Kim Ho brought them along first when challenging high-difficulty dungeons.

If they were overtaken, that strength would fade, so they could not give ground easily.

Of course, I’ll be caught someday.

The word overwhelming was not enough to describe Seo Ye-in’s talent.

Dang Gyu-ri had also watched and experienced it from nearby.

On top of that, according to what they had heard from Kim Ho not long ago, she was Meteor Dragon’s granddaughter.

Even though she was a quarter dragon, she had the talent to become a lord.

Against such a ridiculous genius, Dang Gyu-ri would not be able to defend first place forever.

That doesn’t mean I plan to hand it over easily, though.

Even if being overtaken was already a foregone conclusion, delaying the timing should be possible.

Depending on how much effort they put in, the gap would narrow “less.”

This match is like a midterm checkup.

It was a chance to measure how far Seo Ye-in had caught up to them, and roughly when she would take the number one spot.

The opponent also seemed full of motivation for her own reasons, which made it even better.

Before long, the two adjusted the match conditions, took out their respective weapons, and assumed combat stances.

Then the countdown began.

[3]

[2]

[1]

[Start!]

[Seo Ye-in 100%]

vs

[Dang Gyu-ri 100%]

[Remaining Time 4:59]

FAAAASH—

As holograms gathered and mirror-image Seo Ye-in appeared,

shadows also surged up one after another beneath Dang Gyu-ri’s feet, taking shape.

Research Director, the Blood Cult elder series, Feathered Serpent, Clock Rabbit Grand General.

And not stopping there, when they lightly waved a hand,

SSSSSS……

the Feathered Serpent’s form seemed to collapse and shrink before transforming into a rabbit grand general.

At that, Seo Ye-in’s eyes shone as she said one thing.

“……Earth Eater-Earth Eater.”

“There are two now, right?”

Dang Gyu-ri answered with a bashful smile.

After returning from the inner-world group trip, they had worked hard on the challenge austerity quest and finally succeeded in acquiring [Uniformity].

For now, one is the maximum, though.

Because the rank was low, and their proficiency was still lacking.

Even so, there was meaning in being able to use the Feathered Serpent, which would normally have been on standby.

Soon, after finishing both summoning and [Uniformity], Dang Gyu-ri pointed forward with their shadow bat.

At that, all the undead charged at once.

TUDUDUDUDU!

Seo Ye-in and mirror-image Seo Ye-in immediately opened fire.

Under the hail of [Mana Rounds], the Research Director’s upper body was pierced through again and again and turned into a honeycomb.

Since it was based on a flesh golem, both its durability and recovery were excellent, but it could not last long before being reverse-summoned.

TUDUDUDU!

Next was the Ghost Demon shaking its bell from the rear line, and the Blood Sword Commander swinging a sword at the front.

Dang Gyu-ri had no choice but to flinch in surprise.

Even if they were shadow undead, the time they could endure had become extremely short.

“When did you get that strong?”

“Raised ranks.”

Seo Ye-in answered with sparkling eyes.

[Mana Round], [Ejection], [Impact Bomb], [Explosive Round], and the like, which formed the foundation of a gunslinger, had all reached A+ rank, and her auxiliary skills were also getting ready to cross over from B+.

True, her damage output alone was excellent in the dungeon too.

In <Rabbit War>, she had turned all kinds of rabbit robots into scrap metal in an instant, and had also landed the decisive blow on Grand General Earth Eater.

When it came to attack power alone, she probably would not fall behind Lee Sudok or Seo Cheongyong.

But Dang Gyu-ri shrugged.

That can happen.

They had only been surprised by an unexpected situation. It was still far from enough to be called a crisis.

Undead were meant to be destroyed anyway.

I just have to summon them again.

SSSSSS……

Before long, shadows spread wide behind Dang Gyu-ri, thick pillars rose, and a roof covered them.

Then, from the completed [Umbral Corridor], the undead that had just been destroyed walked out.

TUDUDUDUDU!

Meanwhile, the two Seo Ye-ins were engaged in close combat with the Dark-Shadow Commander and two Earth Eaters.

They narrowly avoided the shadow blades and clock hands being swung at them, and sometimes used the pot to defend.

[Seo Ye-in 98%]

[Seo Ye-in 97%]

They took damage from a graze now and then, but paid it no mind as they rattled off shots with their mana guns.

At the same time, they linked [Fickle Trap] and [Trap Toss], throwing them one by one beneath their feet.

Honestly, that’s the most broken thing.

Originally, the effects were so varied, and the power so inconsistent, that it was practically a variety-show skill.

But when Seo Ye-in used it, it often transformed into some absurdly massive explosive trap.

Of course, complaining would not change anything, so Dang Gyu-ri regained their composure and thought,

She must have some kind of aim.

No matter how much they were shadow undead, as long as Dang Gyu-ri was controlling them, they would never step on the traps.

Seo Ye-in should know that too, yet she kept setting them up.

Then should I think in reverse?

If she was setting them up even though there was no way they would step on them, it was only human nature to step on them on purpose!

Dang Gyu-ri chuckled with an evil Kim Ho smile.

Thinking that when someone liked another person, they really did start to resemble them. Apparently, they had been dyed by him before they knew it.

Then they gave an order, and the Gyu-Shadow Commander and the Gyu Eaters tap-danced over the traps.

BOOM!

……But a massive explosion did not happen.

BZZZZT!

CRACKLE—

Instead, electricity and ice rose up, trapping the undead and freezing them solid.

TUDUDUDUDU!

And the [Mana Rounds] that came flying immediately afterward destroyed them.

Dang Gyu-ri smacked their lips in disappointment, but still shrugged.

I just have to make them again.

The Gyu-Shadow Commander and Gyu Eaters immediately walked out from the [Umbral Corridor].

Not only that, the three they had just resummoned filled the empty spots and pressured Seo Ye-in.

[Seo Ye-in 95%]

[Seo Ye-in 94%]

[Remaining Time 3:47]

Wouldn’t I win if this keeps up?

If they kept cornering her and only made her step on traps?

The health gap was widening bit by bit, and only a few minutes remained.

In the end, it would finish with their victory by decision.

But that won’t do.

Winning the “match” would be just as meaningless as Seo Ye-in beating them while their shadows were sealed.

Their goal, from start to finish, was to measure each other’s skill through a “fight.”

Dragging out time would be a loss for Dang Gyu-ri as well.

Just send them all in.

At Dang Gyu-ri’s order, the shadow undead swarmed in all at once.

It was to force Seo Ye-in to make a choice.

She was fairly good at close combat too, unlike what one would expect from a gunslinger, but dealing with six units at the same time would be too much.

And just as expected, Dang Gyu-ri was able to confirm the opponent’s aim.

WHOOOSH—

At some point, wind had been gathering and compressing around Fast-Luckless.

In that state, she stretched a hand toward them.

[Destructive Gale]

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA—!

The compressed wind came howling with terrifying force.

Since there was a fair amount of distance between them, Dang Gyu-ri took no damage, but the important part came next.

Seo Ye-in lightly kicked off the ground and leaped, then cast [Sailboat] and rode the blowing gale.

And at tremendous speed, she escaped the encirclement.

The mirror image, meanwhile, remained in place.

She stepped firmly on all the [Fickle Traps] they had laid down so far.

∴ Dazzling dance moves.

KWAKWAKWANG—!

POP-POP-POP-POP—!

Explosions of all colors erupted, sweeping over Fast-Luckless and the shadow undead.

In the meantime, the original Seo Ye-in rode the wind and reached right in front of Dang Gyu-ri.

The instant she landed, she sprayed fire with her mana gun.

TUDUDUDUDU!

Textbook.

A tactic of shaking off the minions and taking down the leader first.

When facing a necromancer in particular, it was not just textbook, but manual-level.

The problem was that Dang Gyu-ri was not a simple necromancer.

Close combat? Even better.

They dodged the raining [Mana Rounds], kicked off the ground, and rushed Seo Ye-in.

WHOOSH!

TUDUDUDU!

Bat, pot, and [Mana Rounds] moved back and forth at a distance close enough to touch if they reached out.

While the two were scuffling like that, the shadow undead walked out from the [Umbral Corridor].

Mirror-image Fast-Luckless had also been resummoned.

At that, Seo Ye-in said one thing.

“……Misjudgment.”

∴ Gyu-Gyu too strong.

Her aim had worked to some extent, but it had not been enough to take down Dang Gyu-ri in a short time.

When the undead formed an encirclement again, Fast-Luckless also gathered compressed wind.

She was probably trying to create distance again with the [Destructive Gale] and [Sailboat] combo.

Of course, Dang Gyu-ri had several ways to counter it.

While they wondered what would be best to use, their gaze settled on the two Earth Eaters.

……I did just get them, so I should take them for a test drive, right?

They were also subtly curious.

So when they gave the order, the Earth Eater raised the pocket watch hanging on its back.

[Time Freeze]

TICK— TOCK— TICK— TOCK—