I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 243. Inscription (3)

The 51st cadets were dumbfounded.

From the moment they came together, driven by their dreams of revenge, to where they stood now.

It was shocking enough that everything had been planned by one person, but the reason behind this absurd and tiresome scheme? It was simply because he was annoyed by their one-week training.

And now, night training? What kind of nonsense was that?

It was hard for the 51st cadets to know how to respond to a situation that was difficult to comprehend with normal thinking.

Especially for Kovan, whose mind was in turmoil.

‘What do we do now?’

It had been Kovan who confidently rallied his peers, promising they could exact their revenge.

Thus, feeling responsible for the current situation, he found himself at a loss on how to resolve it.

Kovan bit his lip slightly.

‘Stay calm, there’s still a chance.’

Although their plan had gone awry, hope remained.

‘He said earlier that the attack limit was ten times per person.’

With each person having ten attacks, it wasn’t too many.

Kovan started formulating a strategy in his head.

‘So far, only Mucci is down.’

Which meant their forces were still intact.

Wouldn’t that make it worth fighting?

‘If we use a rotating battle? If we can make him waste his attacks one by one… there’s a chance!’

With hope rekindled, Kovan’s eyes sparkled, and Yuri’s lips twisted into a smirk at the sight.

“What’s wrong? Going for a rotating battle? Planning to take turns coming at me?”

“…?!”

Kovan’s shoulders flinched as his thoughts were seen through in an instant.

And then Yuri’s words shook him even further.

“Oh, right. Did I mention that?”

“What… do you mean?”

“The attack limit is ten times per person, but if I decide to hit someone else, it resets.”

Kovan’s mind was in chaos.

‘What the…?!’

While it was true that the attack limit was ten times per person, what did it mean that it reset when attacking someone else?

It essentially meant the attack limit was virtually unlimited.

‘Then how are we supposed to take down the tiger?!’

But Kovan knew the answer, too.

It meant that if one person could withstand ten attacks in a one-on-one fight with the tiger, they could win.

But that was near impossible.

‘How am I supposed to fight one-on-one with a tiger!’

He wasn’t sure of the tiger’s exact level, but it was certainly at least Fourth Level or higher.

Enduring ten exchanges in a one-on-one fight with such a tiger?

As Kovan gritted his teeth against these absurd conditions, a realization struck him.

‘Hold on… Senior Arin said they definitely captured the tiger, didn’t she?’

She had said that three people, including Yuri and another senior, captured the tiger.

‘If that wasn’t a lie…’

Then how did they manage to catch it?

These were first-year cadets, barely a month into training.

Did they really manage to withstand ten attacks from a Black Sword Corps member who was at least Fourth Level?

‘Is that… even possible?’

Kovan looked up at Yuri with questioning eyes.

And then, at that moment.

Swish-.

Kovan felt the cold aura that had been pressed against his neck suddenly disappear.

“…?”

He stared blankly at Yuri, who had withdrawn his sword.

Click-.

By then, Yuri had completely sheathed his sword.

The 51st cadets murmured.

“What? What’s going on?”

“He put away his sword. So, does that mean we can attack now?”

“Hold on. It could be a trap to lure us in.”

The 51st cadets hesitated, suspecting Yuri of having ulterior motives for putting away his sword.

As if mocking their hesitation, Yuri turned his back on Kovan and casually walked away.

He returned to the spot where he had initially stood.

As everyone stood bewildered by his sudden action, Yuri spoke.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

Yuri smiled at them all.

“From now on, I’ll attack exactly ten times. If you can withstand those ten attacks, I’ll cancel the night training.”

His calm voice echoed softly across the clearing.

Kovan blinked.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“What else would it mean? It’s exactly what I said. Oh, is canceling night training not enough? How about this? If you endure the ten attacks…”

Yuri tapped the tiger vest lightly with his index finger.

“I’ll give you this as well.”

“…?!”

The 51st cadets buzzed with agitation at Yuri’s declaration.

To them, his offer made no sense.

One of them stared at Yuri, a look of disbelief on his face.

“You’re saying… you can take us all down in just ten moves?”

His question sparked grumbles of discontent from the others.

“Isn’t that quite the mistake, senior?”

“Being so blatantly condescending… it’s making me a little angry.”

They displayed strong hostility toward Yuri.

Which was only natural.

Most of those present had gathered here to get revenge on Yuri.

Furthermore, these were people who, until recently, had been highly regarded in society, only to be dragged through the mud over the past few days. And now, they were being outright disrespected to their faces—it was only reasonable for them to be furious.

Yuri simply stroked his chin in thought, unfazed by the murderous intent directed at him.

“Ten moves, huh….”

After a moment of contemplation, Yuri smiled brightly.

“Well, honestly, I think five sword strikes would be enough… but I’ll stretch it to ten for your pride’s sake, okay?”

“……”

The 51st cadets realized something.

That despite his pretty and handsome face smiling, they truly wanted to punch it.

Rumble-.

Killing intent surged from all directions, surrounding Yuri.

It was intense enough that even the onlookers hidden throughout the forest flinched.

Yet, the person bearing the full brunt of that murderous aura just chuckled.

“Oh, what’s this? Everyone’s so eager?”

He spoke in a tone that seemed completely oblivious to the concept of tension.

This prompted Kovan to stand and glare at Yuri.

“Fine. You’d better keep your word.”

“Of course, of course! I’m not one to say something and take it back!”

Of course, the moment he finished speaking, mutters of “that shameless bastard” could be heard from within the forest, though it was too faint for the 51st cadets to hear.

“Alright, shall we get started?”

Yuri reached for his sword, but then—

“Yuriiiii!”

A voice called out from the side, and Yuri turned his head.

There was Arin, poking the unconscious Mucci with a stick.

“Should I wake him up? Should he join in?”

In response to Arin’s question, Yuri waved dismissively.

“Nah, leave him. That guy can join in later….”

But Yuri’s sentence was cut short.

“Ha!”

“Hah!”

Battle cries rang out as multiple figures lunged at Yuri.

There were at least twenty of them.

Seeing their fierce determination, Yuri’s eyes sparkled.

‘Oh, so they plan to strike when I’m off guard?’

It seemed there were more than a few decent ones among them.

Or maybe his training was finally paying off?

‘Well, that’s not the point here.’

What mattered now was that the 51st cadets were charging at him with considerable zeal.

Yuri smirked at the sight of them.

‘Cute little things.’

As their senior, wasn’t it his duty to properly guide his adorable juniors?

To make sure they never dared show their teeth at him again.

‘If I don’t want to deal with this bothersome task a second time….’

Yuri’s hand gripped the hilt of his sword.

Bzzzzt-.

A thin, blue current like thread began to spark at his fingertips.

And then.

‘…I’ll have to crush them thoroughly in one go.’

Crack-!

Yuri’s figure vanished in an instant.

He reappeared right in front of the group charging at him like a herd of bulls.

Yet Yuri moved so fast that the 51st cadets still believed he was in his original position.

Their vision and brain’s processing were unable to keep up with his extreme speed.

As they continued their charge, Yuri was already moving on to the next step.

Boom-.

Yuri’s right leg struck the ground with force.

Even then, the 51st cadets continued their charging motion.

The world moved in slow motion, with only Yuri moving swiftly.

It was then.

Rumble-.

The ground where Yuri had stepped trembled.

Boom-.

It sounded like thunder had struck.

Blue lightning spread from the ground beneath Yuri’s feet, coursing up his legs and enveloping his entire body.

At the same time, Yuri’s torso, now shrouded in thunder, leaned slightly forward.

Click-.

The blade, which had been resting peacefully in its sheath, was slightly exposed, and golden light poured forward.

It all happened in an instant.

“What?”

“Huh?”

All the 51st cadets saw was the sudden golden light rushing toward them.

And that was their last memory.

Boom!

Thunder roared.

Those who were grazed by the golden arc were flung backward like pebbles.

“Guh!”

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Short groans escaped from the twenty-odd individuals sent flying through the air.

The problem was that it didn’t end there.

“Whoa?!”

“W-Wait…!”

Boom!

The ones hit by the golden arc were hurled into others, which caused a

chain reaction.

The speed was so overwhelming that nearly ten more were caught up and sent flying.

“…?!”

“Huh?!”

With a single strike.

Almost half the group was downed by the sudden flash of golden light.

A few of those who got swept up managed to regain some composure, groaning as they did, but those who had taken the brunt of the golden arc and crashed directly into others appeared to have completely lost consciousness.

‘What… what the hell is this…?!’

Kovan, who had been on the opposite side of the strike and was fortunate enough to survive, stared in disbelief at the sight before him.

The ground bore a large, crescent-shaped slash mark.

There was no need to guess who had made it.

The boy with black hair, his body shrouded in blue lightning, holding a sword that still glowed with a faint golden light.

That was the one who had created that powerful sword mark.

As the remaining 51st cadets stared blankly at his back.

“One.”

Yuri turned around, smiling brightly, and declared to the remaining cadets.

“Nine more to go.”

Rumble-.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of thunder rumbled, and the golden light spread again.

The 51st cadets realized then.

It wasn’t arrogance.

He wasn’t looking down on them.

Yuri Holland, he was…

‘He’s powerful enough to….’

At that moment, the absolute truth was etched into the minds of the 51st cadets.

Golden light engulfed them once more.

Meanwhile,

Thump thump-.

Lisa Verfort’s heart pounded as she gazed at the approaching golden light.

‘Ah….’

Her heart throbbed wildly, sending hot blood coursing through her veins.

‘Ahhhhh!’

Her entire body buzzed with a burning heat, from head to toe.

Goosebumps rose along her spine.

For a moment, her vision turned pure white in a state of bliss.

‘Once more….’

She had felt this extreme euphoria only once in her life.

At the Hundred Steps Ceremony not long ago.

‘When was it?’

From the first moment she saw Yuri Holland, he had shone alone.

As she pretended to be unconscious, lying on the ground, she felt her soul captivated by his gaze.

Watching Yuri stride past Mucci Schnell toward the Sword Master, Lisa had experienced the world transforming into something vibrant.

It was the first time in her life she had felt such a sensation.

To Lisa, the world had always been a dull gray.

Occasionally, someone would add a bit of color, but only they would stand out.

It was the first time she had ever seen the entire world shimmer with such beauty.

And when Yuri had finally stood before the Sword Master with confidence.

Lisa witnessed the most beautiful being she had ever seen.

[Next time… I will reach you.]

The words Yuri had spoken to the Sword Master still echoed in her ears.

He shone alone, radiating with a clear, vivid hue.

To Lisa, who lived in a gray world, Yuri Holland was dazzling… and stunningly beautiful.

He was the ultimate embodiment of the beauty she sought.

Facing this ultimate sense of spiritual fulfillment, Lisa felt as if her soul was reborn.

And it wasn’t a mere illusion.

Every time Lisa observed Yuri Holland, he shone, and the world around him was always vibrant.

And now, once again, the world was bathed in beautiful hues because of him, flooding her with an overwhelming sense of spiritual rebirth.

Lisa’s cheeks flushed a bright pink.

‘I’ve found him, the master of my soul.’

Her eyes were fixed firmly on Yuri.

“…My love.”

One being was imprinted clearly onto the soul of a girl.