Chapter 103: Trait

The whip flying at me carried power far beyond the earlier vines.

I swung my Purple Crystal Sword to cut it.

Clang!—

A grating metal-on-metal sound—the whip didn’t break.

It bounced up, twisting unnaturally, aiming for my forehead.

I ducked, but its trajectory bent at a right angle, dropping.

Twisting my body, I raised my scabbard in my left hand to deflect.

Boom!—

The deflected whip scarred the ground.

I stared at Ji-an, stunned.

Her whip-handling was crude, but its movements defied description—beyond unpredictable.

Not even a Manipulation Trait.

It moved like it was alive.

And that wasn’t all.

The whip ignored acceleration, expansion, contraction, inertia, gravity, elasticity, rigidity—all physics.

Unpredictable, unstoppable.

“What a mess.”

My complaint was natural.

A single whip was harder to counter than dozens of vines.

Ji-an swung again.

My eyes tracked the whip’s tip.

Right.

No, left.

I twisted opposite to dodge.

The whip veered mid-air, targeting my abdomen.

I laid my sword flat, stabbing at it.

Hundreds of vines wove the whip—hard to cut.

But seams existed.

As my blade aimed for one—

Crack!—

A thick vine erupted from the ground, slamming my side.

Focused on the whip, I missed the vine.

If it had killing intent or hostility, I’d have sensed it.

But with no negative emotions, my sharp detection failed.

Shoved sideways, I clutched my side.

“Urgh.”

Pain twisted flesh, muscle, bone, organs.

My lip curled.

No guarantee she’d used all her vines just because she wielded a whip.

Heavy damage, but I burned with resolve.

I’d spotted the gap I’d waited for.

When she controlled vines, the whip’s insane trajectory shifts stopped, and its power dropped.

This gap could lead to the opening I needed to subdue her.

To draw more vines, I closed the distance.

Mid-fierce exchange, another vine rose from below.

The whip flew at me.

Now.

I shifted my grip, spinning the sword in my hand, drawing a wide arc.

It crushed both whip and vine.

Then, my trump card—the Purple Crystal Sword’s ability.

Shock absorption.

Not just damage reduction—it absorbed the enemy’s resistance, their energy.

I threw my scabbard at Ji-an.

As her focus shifted, I grabbed the whip with my left hand, yanking hard.

She gripped it with both hands, refusing to let go.

“Experience makes the difference.”

Her absurd strength lacked experience, slowing her in sudden moments.

I didn’t miss it.

I closed the gap instantly.

She swung the whip to block, but my sword pinned it, suppressing resistance.

Crack!—

Thorns sprouted, piercing my palm.

I released—not from pain, but no need to hold now.

Closing in, I kicked up the scabbard I’d thrown, grabbing and swinging it.

Vines rose to block.

Tried to.

My full-force swing wasn’t stoppable by a few vines.

Crunch!—

The scabbard crushed them.

The next strike was unblockable.

We both saw it.

“Sleep for a bit.”

My scabbard struck her jaw and neck.

Thwack!—

She staggered, collapsing.

Not unconscious.

“Tough.”

I’d aimed to knock her out.

She clung to consciousness, but standing or fighting was impossible.

Complete neutralization—victory.

Ji-an, half-dazed, couldn’t believe she’d lost her advantage.

Where did it go wrong?

No answer came.

I shook blood from my hand, checking the time.

“…Not too late.”

Get the Association to restrain her, return to the Academy—three hours tops.

The six-hour final exam had room.

I was battered, but not too bad to show my face.

Letting the Association know this place wasn’t ideal, but no other way.

Pulling my phone, I glanced at Ji-an, asking?

“Any regrets?”

She looked past my shoulder, not at me.

Despair faded from her eyes.

“You won the battle.”

Her lips curled slightly.

“But I won the war.”

I twisted, stepping back.

Black smoke exploded where I stood.

The familiar space-linking smoke, unique to the Organization.

Whatever emerged wasn’t my ally.

One, three, seven, ten.

Over a dozen villains appeared.

The first, an executive, bowed to Ji-an.

“Boss, you okay?”

“Are you blind? Help her up.”

“…Yes.”

He lifted her carefully.

Barely standing, she shoved him away.

Accepting help was reluctant—his touch sparked disgust.

Smiling at me, she said.

“We agreed the loser obeys, but I’m a villain. A little foul play’s fine. Never said it was one-on-one.”

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue.

Things got messy.

“Surrender now?”

“Nonsense.”

I hesitated, grumbling.

Tricky.

Injured, it’d take time, but I wouldn’t lose to these.

The issue was Ji-an recovering.

No healing traits among them?

No choice.

Gotta subdue them hard.

“No choice, then.”

She raised a hand to eye level, declaring solemnly.

“Now, first—huh?”

Grimacing, she clutched her forehead.

“What’s this?”

Intense headache, dizziness, nausea hit.

Vision blurred, legs buckled.

Not delayed damage from me.

Not that kind of impact.

Through her hazy vision, the once-compliant executive drew a dagger.

Its sharp edge and sharper intent—murderous, aimed at her.

Idiot.

Who’re you glaring at?

She wanted to say, but blood surged from her stomach.

The raised dagger gleamed viciously.

As it fell, time slowed.

In her state, she couldn’t dodge or block.

Unlike my restraint, the dagger aimed to kill.

She shut her eyes tight.

Death didn’t scare her.

But not like this.

Thud—

A blade pierced flesh, the stench of blood hitting her senses.

No pain came.

Opening her eyes slowly, she processed it seconds later.

Understood, but couldn’t comprehend.

I’d stepped behind her, blocking the dagger with my palm.

It pierced through to my hand’s back.

Blood dripped from the tip.

I kicked the executive.

He blocked but staggered back.

I yanked the dagger out, blood pouring from the hole.

Normally, it wouldn’t scratch me, but it hit where her thorns had pierced earlier, breaking through easily.

Everyone froze, baffled.

The executive shouted first.

“Who’re you!”

Furious at missing his chance.

I didn’t answer, examining the dagger.

“Reapers’ early design. Poison-coated series.”

My wound’s edges blackened.

I snapped the dagger in half, tossing it.

I could’ve shattered it from afar, but debris might’ve hit Ji-an—potentially fatal.

She, pressed close enough to hear my heartbeat, had no time to care.

Trembling, she asked?

“Why?”

To the betraying executive, and to me.

He answered first.

“Why? Think we’d follow a boss who doesn’t even see us as pawns?”

“Petty grudge, but your eyes say more.”

My jab silenced him.

It wasn’t just that.

They had bigger reasons, but no need to explain.

I stepped beside Ji-an.

“Not a great leader, huh? They’re not on your side. So, I win?”

No reply.

Betrayed unexpectedly, her eyes shook pitifully.

She hadn’t trusted or cared for them, but to be betrayed first?

Her red eyes darted, then avoided mine.

The executive, listening, smirked.

Though my interference ruined it, he regained composure.

Who held the advantage?

They’d watched the fight.

We were barely standing, critically injured.

Ji-an was dosed with lethal inhibitors and anesthetics at headquarters; I’d been stabbed with a poisoned dagger.

My limp left hand proved it.

Standing was a miracle.

He sneered at me.

“Academy professor, you’re absurdly strong—pushing that monster this far. But we saw. You’re not fine. We only need her dead. Doesn’t that benefit you?”

He waved dismissively.

“No grudge against you. Leave. A doctor might save you from that poison.”

Ji-an, dazed for new reasons, spoke urgently.

“S-Sir, you escape.”

Her life wasn’t her worry.

She regretted her greed.

If she hadn’t hurt me, I could’ve left unscathed.

If I died from her wounds and their grudges, she’d never forgive herself.

But a path opened for me to leave safely.

She’d give her life for that.

I had no such plan.

“Escape? That’s nonsense.”

Grumbling, I drew my sword.

He laughed.

“Gonna die together? That close? You fought pretty viciously.”

“Not that close. I saw her twice ten years ago. Barely acquaintances. She’s caused me trouble.”

My line-drawing made Ji-an tremble.

“But I promised.”

“That’s worth dying for?”

I shrugged.

“More than enough.”

“Not funny. Die together then.”

He drew another dagger.

Others pulled weapons or readied attacks.

I scanned them.

Most were skilled—cocky for a reason.

But they missed something.

Their smoke traversal obliterated the area—tombs and headstones I’d preserved, barely a cemetery now.

No reason to hold back anymore.

And—

Their piercing, murderous intent.

It made me smile.

“Love it. Guys trying to kill are easier than those trying to die.”

I stepped in front of Ji-an.

She saw my back for the first time, not my face.

Glancing back, I said.

“Wait a sec. Roughly…”

Not twenty.

No wide gaps.

So—

Calculating, I said shortly.

“Ten seconds?”

“Kill him!”

Villains charged.

I turned, swinging my sword.

Unrestrained full force—time froze.

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