Upper Level Control Room of the Underground Dungeon
Jane sat in front of a monitor showing Team 7's battle from multiple angles.
In her hand was a grading sheet, and her quill pen was moving quickly even now.
"Professor Jane! It really seems like something's wrong with that Cyclops!"
The assistant standing beside her said with a tense expression.
"This one far exceeds the specs of the Cyclopses the other teams faced! It's showing signs of frenzy and is barely affected by curses! We need to halt the exam and bring in a new Cyclops—!"
"Let's watch for now."
"…Excuse me?"
Jane said nothing further and continued focusing on grading.
The assistant, who had never once opposed the Professor of Kizen before, felt that this had gone too far.
"Professor! This isn't fair! This is an accident, and that frenzied Cyclops is out of control! We have to stop the exam immediately!"
"…Fairness."
Jane gently set her glasses down on the table.
"Not exactly a top priority at Kizen."
"…Professor?"
"Do assistants only face weak opponents in real combat? Do they back out of missions every time an enemy exceeds expectations or when some variable arises?"
"N-no, but…!"
The assistant bit her lip, momentarily at a loss for words, before quickly continuing.
"But this isn't real combat! And these students are still too young!"
"Age doesn't matter. What matters is that they're from Kizen."
"Professor!"
"Let's trust them, and watch."
Jane's eyes sparkled as she spoke.
What matters isn't grades or numbers.
What matters is what a student can learn from a particular experience.
"They seem to have realized it's time for change."
Meanwhile, Jane suddenly remembered that yesterday, her 'little brother' had contacted her through the communication crystal.
***
Last night…
The communication crystal suddenly rang and began to glow.
"Hm?"
Jane, who had just finished drying her hair after her night bath, looked at the glowing communication crystal.
Why did she look surprised?
Because this communication crystal was special. It was reserved only for someone very close to her.
And somehow, she already had a feeling about who was calling.
With a clean but quick movement, she picked up the crystal, coughed lightly, and answered.
"Knox? It's quite rare for you to contact me at this hour."
Surprisingly, her tone wasn't her usual cold one.
It was still somewhat cold, but mixed with a faint warmth.
"Hehe, sorry Sister Jane. Did I disturb you?~" said Knox.
"It's okay. I don't mind." Jane crossed her arms slightly.
"Usually when you call me, it's either because you discovered a new dish or because you want to ask me something. So which one is it this time?"
Because she had just finished showering and was wearing light clothes, the proud figure usually hidden by her work attire was now clearly visible.
Of course, Knox—who had lived together with Jane for years—was completely immune to this.
Jane used Seduction (unintentional).
Knox was hit. But Knox is immune.
Attack failed.
"Ehem… Sister Jane, how could you say that? Can't I just call because I missed you?" said Knox.
Jane rolled her eyes slightly but smiled.
"Hah… Knox. Your cute act won't work on me."
"Tsk. It's not working anymore, huh," Knox muttered.
Jane's mouth twitched slightly.
"Knox… did I just hear something?"
Knox immediately straightened his back.
"Nope, Sister! I mean, I got a new cooking idea! Later, I'll give it to you personally!" said Knox while giving a salute.
Jane laughed softly.
"Pfft. Alright, alright. Tell me, what do you want to say?"
Knox's expression turned serious.
"Sister, tomorrow, when the evaluation performance starts, can I ask you to carefully and closely monitor those Cyclops?"
Jane, seeing Knox's serious expression, replied,
"…Is this related to 'that person'?"
Of course, Jane was referring to the priest who had infiltrated Kizen.
She knew about this because Nefthis and Lorain had already told her.
Knox nodded.
"Yes. Although I don't have any evidence, I have a strong feeling something will go wrong tomorrow. My guess is…"
Jane interrupted him.
"Cyclops, right?"
Knox smiled slightly.
"Yes… but, sister, I don't have the evidence yet."
Jane shook her head.
"I believe in you, Knox. I have never doubted you."
"Besides, don't you remember how many years we've lived together? Not to mention, I taught you personally."
"So I know very well how sharp your intuition is."
Knox looked surprised for a moment before smiling.
"Hehe… thank you very much, Sister Jane."
Inside his mind, he thought,
Intuition, huh.
What Sister Jane means is probably either my Newtype skill…
or my knowledge of the future.
After that, they chatted for a while—not only about the priest, but also about daily life.
When Knox told her about the bullies who had picked a fight with him after he defended the dorm manager, Jane's face turned cold, as if she was already thinking about how to "educate" them later.
Then Knox mentioned that he had fought Hector and completely crushed him.
Jane released a terrifying aura.
If anyone had been there, they would have either collapsed, been crushed by the pressure, or fainted.
But when Jane saw Knox's calm, smiling face—
she forced herself to calm down.
Her expression then turned slightly… pitying.
Because Jane knew that after that fight, Hector's fate had already been sealed.
At the very least, if Knox ever faced Hector in a duel assessment…
Jane would bet her entire fortune that Knox would completely crush him.
After chatting a bit more, they ended the conversation.
***
The memory of that conversation brought a faint smile to Jane's lips.
Her expression became calmer. More confident. Confident in Group 7.
And of course—
confident in her proud little brother.
***
"Guys."
Having retreated to a safe distance from the Cyclops's attacks, Simon looked back at his teammates.
"Let's give up on curses. They don't seem to be working."
"T-that can't be!" Meilyn shouted.
"Didn't you see the other teams? They all beat it using Exhaust! Why is it only us—?!"
"I'm not sure of the reason myself."
Simon raised his head and studied the Cyclops closely.
Bloodshot eyes, bulging muscles, abnormally swollen veins.
Was it simply bad luck that they had been matched with one in such peak condition?
"I agree with Simon. It's clear that Exhaust isn't working properly right now."
Rick chimed in. Even Meilyn, who had protested giving up the curse tactic, couldn't deny that the Cyclops was barely affected.
Simon spoke again. "So we need a different strategy."
"…How?"
Meilyn looked like she was on the verge of tears. Honestly, she felt wronged. Everything was going horribly wrong.
Their squad roster, undead distractions, even their curse strategy had all failed.
With every plan falling apart, what more could they possibly do?
"Just do whatever you want."
Vwooooom!
Simon dodged a diagonal swing of the Cyclops's club and continued.
"Forget all the tactics we planned. Just help me however you feel like."
"What are you saying—?!"
Thud!
Simon faltered slightly while dodging the third strike. The Cyclops, sensing the opening, swung again.
Shrrrrk!
A crimson wave reeking of blood swept past the Cyclops's face. Its vision turned red, and the startled monster stepped back.
"Got it!"
Camibarez, who had cast the blood magic Blood Silk, winked with one eye.
"You mean I just help Simon however I like, right?"
"Simon!"
Rick summoned a sword from subspace, enchanted it, and threw it.
"Use this!"
The sword Rick threw flew behind the Cyclops. Everyone watching thought he had missed—until a Skeleton appeared like a gust of wind and caught it.
Slash!
The Skeleton spun and slashed, carving a deep gash into the Cyclops's thick waist. Blood spurted as the Cyclops turned in rage.
"Rick! Nice enchant!"
As the Skeleton drew the Cyclops's attention, Simon widened the distance again.
Rick continued pulling weapons from subspace, enchanting them and throwing them, while Camibarez used Blood Silk to obscure the Cyclops's vision and harass it.
Focus.
There were still too many distracting thoughts.
Amid the fierce battle, perhaps foolishly, Simon slowly closed his eyes. The noise around him faded.
His consciousness expanded. His awareness sharpened.
Hooooo…
Sound vanished. Time slowed.
The world that Bahil had shown him during Katarology class.
Having experienced it once, Simon could now partially recreate that mental state.
Thank you, Professor Bahil!
Simon snapped his eyes open. Twenty Skeletons erupted from the subspace beneath him.
Thanks, Pier!
He deployed the Skeletons in teams of three to circle the Cyclops. Before long, the monster was surrounded.
The frenzied Cyclops swung its club. Several Skeletons were destroyed instantly, bones scattering across the floor.
It didn't matter.
Restoration!
One of the skeletons immediately reformed and picked up a fallen sword.
Slash!
The Cyclops's heel was sliced open, a chunk of flesh gouged out.
Crack!
The Cyclops staggered, and another skeleton thrust a spear into its side.
Slice!
A sword carved a long gash across the Cyclops's back.
"Two more spears!"
Rick cast Darkness enchantments on more weapons and scattered them around the Cyclops. Simon directed the skeletons.
The debris reassembled, grabbed the weapons, and resumed their attack.
No matter how fast or strong the Cyclops was, it couldn't defend itself from every direction.
It couldn't regain control. When it looked forward, its back was slashed. When it turned, a spear rose from below. When it stomped, a flank was pierced.
It was like a beast caught in a trap, wounds piling up as it flailed.
"Wooooooahhhh!"
"Push through!"
Class A students watching from the upper floor cheered, pressing themselves against the transparent wall. This strategy was a far cry from the usual rigid tactics.
Caught up in the thrill, Simon swung his arms like a conductor, controlling the Skeletons.
Still not enough. His nose tingled.
Something was missing. He could do more—better.
—Now you understand, boy! The stronger your will, the more you can draw out the potential and aggression of the undead!
Will.
Above all else, a powerful will.
Simon's eyes widened.
Kill!
The rate of Skeleton restoration increased.
Kill!
Skeleton limbs flailed wildly, slashing the Cyclops.
KILL!!!
The dead screamed. Their weapons danced in a frenzy.
With Simon's Absolute Order, at this moment the Legion existed solely to destroy the Cyclops.
An unrelenting assault.
Unpredictable attack patterns.
A mixture of unorthodox and orthodox.
It was a masterclass in necromancy.
GRAAAAAAARGH!
Covered in wounds, the Cyclops roared and charged through the skeletons toward Simon.
"Get out of the way! Simon!"
Simon was beyond focused—he had entered a state of perfect immersion. Too slow to react, the Cyclops's club was already descending.
BOOOOM!
A wall of black ice burst from a magic circle on the floor, deflecting the club. Startled, Simon turned around.
"Keep going, Simon!"
Meilyn shouted through gritted teeth.
"At this point, there's no way we're losing!"
The rising wall continued to block the Cyclops's movement. It tried to smash through it, its blood soaking the black glacier.
Catching his breath, Simon calmly stared down the Cyclops and prepared his next dark spell.
KWAAAANG!
Eventually, the frenzied Cyclops shattered the walls and charged again.
…This is dangerous.
Andrew, the safety officer who had been silently observing, extended his arm.
That Cyclops's attack could shatter Simon's barrier vest in a single blow. If it landed, it could cripple him.
Honestly, both professors and students are out of their minds…!
This madness had to be stopped.
Just as Andrew prepared to strike down the Cyclops, he noticed something.
A blood-red magic circle drawn on the Cyclops's abdomen.
"Now, Cami!"
At Simon's shout, Andrew quickly withdrew his hand.
Fwoooosh!
Standing in her fixed position, Camibarez's entire body erupted with Darkness like flames. Her hair bristled, and tears of jet-black blood streamed from her eyes.
A blood spell that only vampires of the Ursula family could cast.
The pinnacle of blood magic.
SPLAAAAAAASH!
From its forearms, chest, shoulders, thighs, and heels—blood burst out like fountains from the countless wounds inflicted by Simon's skeletons.
Bleeding and poison magic were the strongest support techniques available to a teammate stationed in a fixed position.
"Whoa…!!"
Watching the massive monster gush blood from every wound was both horrifying and awe-inspiring. In an instant, the dungeon was dyed crimson.
Even Simon, watching from the rear, couldn't help but marvel.
So this is the Bleeding Overflow spell!
Everyone in Team 7 already knew Camibarez could use this spell when they had discussed their full capabilities earlier.
However, it had only been Plan B due to its instability in real combat and the requirement of inflicting a large number of wounds beforehand.
But now that Meilyn's Dark Flare had been sealed, this spell had become their main plan.
Camibarez was the core damage dealer in this battle.
"…Ugh!"
Having poured out too much energy, Camibarez staggered from anemia and collapsed in place.
Her role was now over.
"Leave it to me, Cami!" Simon raised both arms.
He was about to unleash a secret technique that only he—among all first-years at Kizen—had mastered through countless hours of practice.
Bones scattered across the dungeon floor suddenly shot up into the air.
Thank you, Professor Aaron!
Everything Simon had learned at Kizen now became his strength. He clenched his fist tightly.
Countless bones floating in the air shot into the Cyclops's wounds, which had been forced open by Camibarez's bleeding spell.
KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!
A secret technique that targeted over a hundred wounds simultaneously.
The Cyclops went berserk with pain, thrashing wildly and letting out a maddened scream as it repeatedly slammed its head against the wall.
Sorry—but it wasn't over yet.
Simon twisted his right arm to the side, his fist clenched.
Restoration!
The bones embedded in the wounds began converging toward the center of the Cyclops's body, executing the Restoration command. They severed veins, tore through organs, and burrowed into muscle.
KYAAAAAAAARRRGHHH!
The Cyclops was being destroyed from the inside.
"…Seriously."
A male student watching through the glass in the observation room stared in disbelief.
The loss of Meilyn had been a major blow. No one had expected such a dominant performance from Team 7.
But—
"Holy shit! That's insane!"
"Nice one, Simon!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Everyone's expectations were being shattered.
Those who had laughed, scoffed, or pitied them were now pounding the walls in excitement.
The performance delivered by Simon and Team 7 stirred something deep within their fellow necromancers—something beyond simple rivalry.
"Huff! Huff!"
Simon's right arm dropped limply. He had used up all the remaining Darkness in the bones, so Restoration could no longer be activated.
Meanwhile, Rick and Meilyn threw Nervier potions at the heavily wounded Cyclops. As the liquid seeped into its wounds, the monster's muscles visibly twisted and contracted.
"There we go!"
"It's working!"
Simon dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
At this point, they had truly done everything they could.
Please… just stay down.
Thud!
But it didn't.
The blood-soaked Cyclops began pushing itself up from the ground.
Camibarez, who had been sitting nearby, looked terrified.
"H-he's still… able to get up?"
Even with twisted bones, drained blood, and destroyed organs, the Cyclops staggered toward Simon like a walking corpse.
Its eyes gleamed with pure killing intent.
So in the end… unless it's a fatal blow, it doesn't matter?
Facing those eyes, Simon spoke calmly.
"Rick."
"Ready! Catch!"
Rick threw an enchanted claymore toward him. The blade was completely dyed in Darkness.
"I poured every last bit of Darkness into it! Duration's only ten minutes!"
"Thanks."
Simon gripped the claymore's hilt and assumed his stance.
He could no longer use the body activation technique taught by Hong Feng.
Both the monster and Simon were completely exhausted.
From this point on, it would be a battle of willpower.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The zombified Cyclops charged.
Tap tap tap!
Simon rushed forward, clutching the claymore.
The Cyclops swung its club first.
Whoosh!
Simon twisted his body and dodged.
The Cyclops was far slower and clumsier than before.
Simon tried to exploit the opening—
Huh?
His vision spun.
In the frenzy of pushing the Cyclops, Simon hadn't realized he had already reached his physical and mental limit.
His weakened right leg gave out, sending him tumbling across the floor.
"Simon!"
"Get up!!"
Gritting his teeth, Simon forced himself to stand.
The Cyclops charged again. Swinging its club.
Simon barely ducked beneath it.
"Win, Simon!"
"Dodge!!"
Class A students pressed against the glass wall, shouting at the top of their lungs.
Even Hector—who had pushed aside other students to get closer—now watched silently, exhaling through his nose.
This is unreal.
The assistant watching the monitors was stunned.
Yes, Simon's performance was impressive, but—
Professor Jane… stood up?
She had risen to her feet, dropping her grading sheet, her eyes locked on the screen.
In the five years he had served under her, he had never seen her like this before.
Meanwhile, in the dungeon—
Andrew looked at his sweaty palm. This is embarrassing.
A supposed professional getting worked up over a student battle.
Wiping the sweat on his pants, Andrew thought that maybe he was getting old.
Fwoooooosh!
Simon leaned back to dodge the club but staggered backward.
He could close the distance, sure—but even with Rick's claymore, aiming for the heart or head was difficult due to the Cyclops's massive size.
"Simon!"
Then Meilyn shouted.
"I'll cast an Ice Wall under your feet! Use it as a platform and go for the kill! You can do it, right?"
Good call.
Simon quickly nodded.
The Cyclops, unable to understand human speech, swung its club sideways.
Instead of dodging, Simon planted one knee on the ground.
At that moment, Meilyn's Ice Wall erupted from the magic circle beneath him.
Shrrrrrk!
The club struck the Ice Wall.
Simon—now two meters higher—kicked off and leapt.
Now!
Time was still moving slowly, and his concentration remained unbroken.
The nape of the Cyclops came into view.
Simon gathered every last ounce of strength into his arms.
The unwavering tip of his sword shot forward toward the Cyclops's neck.
Crack!
"…Ah!"
A scream tore through the air.
The Cyclops had struck Simon with its other fist.
His body flew dozens of meters and slammed into the wall.
"Simon!!"
"Are you okay, Simon?!"
Gasps of shock echoed from the set position.
Simon, wracked with pain, opened his eyes.
[Barrier Gauge: 7%]
Still—
time was slow.
Above the Cyclops, still frozen in its punching motion, the claymore it had knocked loose spun through the air.
Of course.
Simon curled his lips into a grin and reached out his hand.
Ending it like this wouldn't suit a necromancer.
He had saved one final move for the end.
Simon issued the Restoration command.
Clack clack clack!
From the wound in the Cyclops's chest, skeleton shoulder bones emerged.
Arm bones shot from the floor and connected in midair, forming a complete arm.
Thud!
The skeletal arm swung upward—
and caught the falling claymore.
And then—
Squelch!
Without hesitation, it plunged the blade straight into the Cyclops's neck.
"Ah…"
A heavy silence fell across the dungeon.
Simon slowly stood on trembling legs.
And then—
THUD!
The Cyclops collapsed.
"…Huff! Huff! Haaah!"
Simon gasped for air.
Finally.
His chest felt like it would explode with joy.
He raised his right arm and clenched his blood-soaked fist.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Thunderous cheers erupted from every direction.
Hector turned his back.
Jane in the control room slowly sat down again.
Andrew appeared in midair, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Team 7… successfully hunted the Cyclops."
"We did iiiiiit!"
The three teammates rushed toward Simon.
"Siiimooooon!"
Camibarez reached him first and hugged him tightly.
"Wow! Wow! You're amazing!"
Rick followed, ruffling Simon's hair while shouting hoarsely.
"You did it! You really did it! Hahahahaha!"
"I'm so glad! Really glad!"
Simon coughed as they smothered him, but he was still smiling brightly.
Meilyn walked over from the set position.
Her expression was a storm of emotions.
She wiped her face with her hand, then returned to her usual cool demeanor and held out her palm.
"…Hmph. Not bad. I admit I owe you one this time."
Her voice trembled slightly at the end.
Simon smiled and high-fived her.