NOVEL NEXT chapter 17
17 – Main Episode Performance Evaluation Begins (6)
018
Bang, crash!
Crash, crash, crash!
“Argh?! Ughhhhh!”
With enormous telekinesis, the Minotauros was attacked one after another.
The Minotauros roared in agony. The floor of the training hall cracked, and dirt and stone fragments flew up.
For a moment, I concentrated an invisible force to tightly bind the Minotauros’ limbs and intended to wield my sword with full force.
However, from afar, black shadows rushed like arrows, attacking Hong Da-ye’s back.
“Kiri, kick, kiri, kick.”
“This damn monkey.”
The sharp claws of the monkey, two feet taller than an adult male, barely grazed Hong Da-ye’s cheek as it passed.
Drip, drip.
Blood drops fell from her cheek.
“Kiiii, eee, kick, kekek.”
Upon seeing the drops of blood, the excited monkey stretched out its numerous arms like rubber bands and snapped them like whips.
Whoosh.
It steadily pressured Hong Da-ye with its rapid, barely visible movements, which could be easily blocked by using telekinesis.
However, each time telekinesis was used, the Minotaur seemed to ghostly perceive it and interfered.
There was no way to fight properly with the two of them attacking together.
And even the superpower was a problem.
Little by little, the superpower was getting disturbed.
It seemed as if the already broken body could no longer endure the use of telekinesis.
Could it be that the body just wouldn’t hold up?
“Uhm, uh, ugh! Uh, ugh!”
Seizing the moment of slightly disrupted concentration, the Minotaur’s fists pierced through and struck the abdomen. Oh, damn it.
Thud!
“Kuh, kugh!”
It felt like being hit by a truck.
In a short time, the telekinesis managed to avoid a fatal injury, but a rib seemed to be cracked.
“Guh, guh… Hoo.”
Damn it.
In the past, it would have been possible to take them down without much difficulty.
To think there would be a struggle against a mere calf.
Should one say time is cruel?
‘If it weren’t for that monkey, it would have been manageable.’
The black long-armed monkey, continuously hindering Hong Da-ye from behind the Minotaur, was no small nuisance.
Whenever Da-ye tried to bind the Minotaur with telekinesis, the monkey continued to interfere.
‘At this rate, we might not be able to hold out until the security team arrives.’
Hong Da-ye wiped the blood flowing between his lips and rekindled his telekinesis.
He couldn’t show weakness in front of the children.
That was because Hong Da-ye was their hero.
He had to protect those children at least.
“…As you can see, the instructor won’t last long.”
“……”
Team 1 and Team 16 trainees fell silent.
They couldn’t leave the injured Hong Da-Ye alone.
However, it was clear that recklessly intervening would quickly turn them into pieces of meat rolling on the dirty ground.
“What we need to do is simple. We will take on one of those monsters so that the instructor can focus more.”
“Which monster should we take on, the bull or the monkey?”
In response to polite character Yuliya’s question, Lee Jin-Hyuk pointed at the long-armed monkey.
“Obviously, the monkey.”
It was an obvious answer.
The Minotaur was on a completely different level.
“But the monkey isn’t necessarily weak. It’s just weaker than the Minotaur, not something the trainees can easily defeat.”
That certainly seemed plausible.
Yuliya slightly nodded in agreement with his words.
She wasn’t sure exactly how strong the monkey was, but she could tell from its few movements that it wasn’t something the trainees could handle.
“Rather than trying to defeat the monkey monster, we just need to hold its aggro until the security team arrives.”
“…That doesn’t sound as easy as you make it out to be.”
Attract the aggro of the monkey?
Easier said than done.
However, for the trainees who had never faced such a high-level monster before, this was by no means an easy task.
In real combat, unlike their training at the academy, even the slightest mistake could lead to irreversible disaster.
And because of the murderous aura emitted by those monsters, their bodies were still frozen.
As a result, they wouldn’t be able to perform at their usual level.
Could they really handle that monster under these circumstances?
“Whether we like it or not, we have to do it.”
Lee Jin-Hyuk surveyed the children’s faces with a serious gaze.
The children quietly met Lee Jin-Hyuk’s eyes.
“Because if the instructor falls, we’re all as good as dead anyway.”
“…Sigh. Well, that’s true.”
Seonari took a deep breath and nodded. She wanted to deny it, but it was an undeniable fact. When on Earth would the security team come?
“So, what’s the plan?”
“Do you have any ideas?”
“Hey, we don’t have much time. Hurry up and tell us.”
Naturally, Jin Suyeon, Yu Seolhyun, and Seonari all turned to him with questions.
Following them, Lee Siwoon and Yulia’s gaze also fell on Lee Jinhyuk.
Everyone knew about Lee Jinhyuk’s ability to develop strategies, as well as his achievements in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals.
So it made sense for them to listen to him.
After all, Lee Jinhyuk was the most suitable operator in this place.
It would be better to let him come up with a strategy than have someone else do it.
“…Well, it’s not so much a great strategy as it is assigning positions. Like I said before, we just need to buy some time.”
In a situation where every second counted, Lee Jinhyuk quickly and simply explained the plan while discussing a few features of the Black Hand Long-arm Monkey.
The children nodded their heads at his words and soon took on their respective roles.
Even though it was a bit uncertain, Lee Jinhyuk’s proven performance throughout the evaluation gave them a sliver of trust.
‘Well…then.’
Lee Jinhyuk slowly nocked an arrow onto his bow.
Despite everything, he was an archer.
For the talent-lacking hero Lee Jinhyuk, using a bow as a primary weapon was the most rational choice.
“Get ready, everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
With a thwack!
A dark, magical arrow flew toward the monkey’s cheekbone.
However…
“Kiy? Kiii?”
Hadn’t it caught the arrow all too easily, as if it had eyes on the back of its head? It wouldn’t just stand there and take the shot.
Would they have to force the monkey into the second phase after all?
“I’ve got its attention.”
“Kiy? Kii? Kii…”
The Black Hand Long-arm Monkey’s gaze met Lee Jinhyuk’s eyes.
Ah… the feeling of regret started to creep in as they locked eyes, after what he just did. Lee Jinhyuk secretly swallowed a knot of dry saliva. Phew. Alright, let’s give it a try.
The monkey, as if it found the situation humorous, easily snapped the arrow in half and slowly flicked its tongue out.
At that sight, Hong Da-ye angrily cried out with a frown. What are those guys doing? I tried so hard not to provoke that beast!
“What are you doing, getting yourselves in danger! I told you not to interfere……”
“Instructor, you can’t handle it alone! If you fall, it’s all over for us!”
Jin Soyeon shouted loudly.
“We’ll handle that monkey, so please finish off the cow quickly and help us!”
“…You guys.”
Hong Da-ye bit her lip slightly.
As Jin Soyeon said, it was difficult for Hong Da-ye to deal with those two monsters alone.
If she made a mistake and suffered a severe injury, she couldn’t guarantee the lives of those children.
In a way, their actions were a rational choice.
But was it the right choice to entrust one of those powerful monsters to them, who were just academy trainees?
If something went wrong….
“We’re also aspiring heroes! So, please don’t worry too much, Instructor!”
Suddenly.
– These trainees aren’t just kids; they’re aspiring heroes. You cannot treat them like children forever.
Words once spoken surfaced in her mind.
– You guys will have multiple responsibilities as a single hero trainee. When a state of emergency is declared, you will be mobilized without being considered as trainees and have a duty to protect citizens from active criminals.
These kids are not mere students, but aspiring heroes.
– Legally, they are considered half-adults. They used to be students receiving help, but now they are different. Your role is not to receive help. You are here to give help.
Hong Da-ye herself had said that they were not only to receive help but to give help.
Would she continue to treat those children as students?
The would-be heroes who have already obtained their licenses?
“…Don’t push yourselves too hard. The security team will arrive soon. No, never mind. I’ll kill this damn cow quickly and help you.”
For now, Hoong Da-ye decided to give in.
Although she was worried, there was no choice but to trust the kids at this point.
“Yes, Instructor…! Ah, o-oh, it’s coming! Jinhyuk-ah, it’s coming!”
The Long-Armed Monkey, which had been glaring at Lee Jin-hyuk and his friends, immediately lunged toward them.
In the blink of an eye, the monkey jumped several meters, trying to reach out its rubber-band-like arm to grab Lee Jin-hyuk. But….
“What are you looking at?”
Unfazed by the powder the monkey scattered, Sonari forcefully raised her fist and struck the monkey’s arm away.
With a resounding boom, the monkey’s hand shot up to the ceiling, its arm stretching out several meters.
“…Haah!”
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lee Siwoon drew his breath and layered his blade with magic, slicing horizontally at the monkey’s arm.
Swish!
“Screee!”
The creature’s skin cracked open and a spray of bright red blood spewed out.
“… It’s tough.”
However, the skin was tougher than he had expected.
His attack didn’t go as planned.
Despite being a practice sword, he had exerted all his strength into it and swung with intent, yet it still didn’t cut through?
Siwoon bit his lower lip slightly.
“Fall back! Yoo Seolhyun, hold off!”
“I know!”
Just as the monkey was about to crush Siwoon with its left hand, Yoo Seolhyun sprang to action and blocked it immediately.
Clang, clang! Cling!
Sharp claws and the blade of a practice spear produced a metallic sound that rang through the air.
In the middle of continuously thrusting her spear and circling around the monkey…
“… … … Thunder Spear!”
In perfect timing, the electrifying spear that Yuliya was preparing struck down on the long-limbed monkey.
“Screee, eee, eek!”
Taking advantage of a brief moment when the monkey’s muscle contracted from the intense shock, Siwoon, Seolhyun, and Sunari launched a combined attack.
However, Black Hand, the long limbed monkey, seemed unfazed by their combined attack and extended its arm persistently within the melee, targetting the bothersome magician first for his attack.
Swish!
His black hand rushed forward at a rapid speed.
Heading squarely for the undefended abdomen of Yuliya, it was a powerful thrust. However, Jin Soyeon who had been prepared beforehand, used her one-handed shield to parry, diverting the path of the monkey’s hand.
“Screee, eee, eekkk!”
The monkey, Black Hand, grimly withdrew its arm.
It seemed to be irritated by their persistent evasion, facing one person at a time.
“Haa, ha…. What is this, this damn monkey ain’t much.”
“Don’t let your guard down. That guy has hardly taken any damage.”
Seonari’s words were cut off by Lee Jinhyuk.
Even with the six of them attacking jointly, they couldn’t deal proper damage. However, Lee Jinhyuk thought this was better than expected.
Considering it was their first time joining forces with the other members of Team 16, they were doing quite well, and the top priority was buying time anyway.
‘Not bad.’
The vanguard tanks were I Siwoon and Seonari, who had strong defense abilities. Yu Seolhyeon, with his superior speed and long-range attacks, took care of the middle dealing. The rear guard consisted of the operator, Lee Jinhyuk, and the magician, Yulia. Jin Soyeon, with her good balance, took on the role of a keeper in the middle.
‘It isn’t that bad.’
Indeed, it wasn’t that bad.
With this level of battle power and positioning, they should be able to handle any opponent unless it was really extraordinary.
The children’s skills were exceptional.
It wasn’t for nothing that they were the protagonists and the antagonist.
***
“Ugh… Damn…”
“D-damn… Cough, cough.”
“Haa, haa, haa.”
It was a matter of minutes.
Hardly a few minutes had passed.
And yet, all of us were rolling on the filthy ground, spitting out blood and saliva.
I Siwoon, Yu Seolhyeon, Seonari, Jin Soyeon, everyone.