Episode 111: Final Exams (7)
A cavern filled with shadows.
This space, where a chilly energy flowed, was Yu Serin’s designated resting place.
Also known as “cooldown time.”
As the boss of the Black bell, she had a penalty that restricted her movement for a certain period.
So, she accepted it without much complaint and simply sat on a bench, closing her eyes for a moment.
But then—
Step, step.
Clack, clack.
The clear sound of heels echoed through the cavern.
Yu Serin rose from her seat.
A courageous raid attempt by the defense team was like a guest to be greeted with courtesy.
However—
The ones who entered the cavern were not the faces she had expected.
“…Vice Leader Kang Arin.”
The corners of her lips slowly lifted.
There were two people before her.
One was a familiar figure — Kang Arin, vice leader of Glory.
The other… she had seen in a scout report. Was the name Ha Sion?
Yu Serin smiled and gently brushed the back of her hand.
“When facing attackers… all restrictions are lifted.”
She stepped forward lightly.
Her movement made no sound.
She simply floated softly in the air.
“And despite that, you’ve come here directly…”
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes glowing faintly and her smile thin.
“Am I being… underestimated?”
With those words, black chains began to coil up from her toes like a serpent.
However, Kang Arin and Ha Sion—
The two were confident. Strongly so.
They had regressed, retained their memories, and held knowledge of the future.
There was no doubt about their strength.
But — “not yet.”
Sion had yet to awaken the Pama’s Flame.
And Arin had not yet acquired the Fragment.
Despite that, the two were mistaken.
They assumed a hero like Yu Serin, who had no data, could be subdued by them.
In truth, this was the same misjudgment made by Cheon Yeoul.
This entire situation was being broadcast live.
If they defeated Yu Serin here and now, they could preserve Glory’s reputation and keep her in check from approaching Jung Haein.
And if, by chance, they lost?
‘Haein will probably save us.’
That simple confidence was the beginning of all their miscalculations.
“Sion, do you see that black thing? Pama’s Flame. Hurry.”
Kang Arin commanded boldly.
“Arin, hurry — Shadow Claw…!”
Sion reflexively responded.
The whole situation had been based on a card play strategy.
But neither of them had that card.
Their actions were based on a vague belief that the other had reached a certain level.
There had been no prior coordination, no strategy meeting.
They had, after all, come straight here the moment they met.
A careless belief of, ‘She must be ready.’
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
Their eyes met, and only then did they realize—
That neither of them was prepared for anything.
At the same time, in the waiting area for eliminated participants—
“Ahahahahaha!!!”
Yu Hana had been breathless with laughter for some time.
“Pffft!”
Cheon Yeoul was the same.
The face that had been slightly tearful just moments ago was now red with laughter.
Her nose was still red from sniffling over Yu Hana’s travel news, but her eyes had folded into crescent moons with laughter.
Cheon Yeoul, too, had underestimated Yu Serin.
And overestimated herself.
The result: a complete defeat.
Meanwhile, Yoon Chae-ha was crouched in a corner.
Still reeling from Yu Hana’s shocking statement.
“I… I want to go on a trip too…”
And not long after, the light beams in the waiting room flickered.
Two women of similar height entered through it.
***
The hidden place Gaon has prepared
Officially called the “Hidden Shop,” this area could only be accessed by those who had collected a certain number of points.
At minimum, one had to clear a Silver-tier boss to even learn of its location.
From resurrection items to special gear and stat-enhancing artifacts—
It was an excellent shop offered by Gaon.
[140 PT]
Looking at the number displayed on my watch, I paused for a moment and glanced around.
‘That’s a bit tight.’
I felt like it might not be enough.
‘Even if I don’t go for resurrection…’
If I gave up on reviving, I could probably grab a few items…
But there might also be hidden rewards I didn’t know about.
In the end, I made a decision:
I’d gather more points.
And pick one more boss to target.
Not Do Han-seong.
He was a Silver-tier boss too—a tiring fight and required a team to take down.
So, I chose Instructor Park Changmyeong, also a Silver-tier boss.
Though both were of the same tier, their styles were different.
If Do Han-seong emphasized team combat, Park Changmyeong was more suited to solo challengers.
I quickly made my way to his simulation room.
The place was quieter than I expected. But quiet didn’t mean peaceful.
Inside, several students were sprawled out, half-unconscious.
Since they were from the defense team, they weren’t eliminated yet—
But at this rate, they would be soon.
“What’s your name?”
As soon as I stepped into the zone, Instructor Park Changmyeong asked.
“Jung Haein,” I replied concisely.
The instructor gave a slight nod and pointed behind him with his finger.
“It’s simple.”
Behind him stood a punching machine.
The striking pad at the front was the kind you’d often see.
But the problem was—
On top of it was a menacing fist, ready to punch back.
“Strike it head-on. If you exceed the required score, you’ll earn a drop. However—”
He turned, slowly shifting his face toward me.
“If you don’t hit the target score on the first try, that thing will hit you back— With exactly double the force.”
As he finished speaking, the upper fist gave a slight clunk and rattled.
I turned my eyes toward the punching machine.
Various scores were displayed on the board.
560, 670, 880…
But the top score was blank.
These tests weren’t always direct duels with instructors.
Sometimes, they were replaced with challenges suited to the boss’s tier and theme.
Park Changmyeong, in this case, presented a trial focused purely on strength.
Fittingly simple and straightforward.
What was needed—
Was a single, powerful strike.
“Here I go.”
From my last battle with the Apostle, I’d learned something.
It was about Phalanx.
‘Do I really have to take to the air?’
Catenaccio that soared into the sky, and Phalanx that crashed down—
These techniques relied on altitude, gravity, and rotational force to generate explosive power.
In real combat, that might be more effective.
But this time was different.
The ceiling was low.
And just like the last battle, I needed to pierce a single point.
I didn’t summon clones.
I simply visualized countless spears in my hand.
And then I compressed them.
Into one, massive spear.
The arm holding the spear trembled violently.
Compressed energy surged out from my fingertips.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
It had to be released.
‘Where to?’
Straight ahead.
Phalanx — Flash Strike.
BOOOOM!
My spear pierced into the punching machine.
With a deafening roar that tore through the air, metal burst and clanged.
Moments later, the dust settled, revealing the machine’s condition.
Half-destroyed.
It let out a deep, mechanical groan, unable to function properly.
Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep….
Despite everything, the digital reader blinked and displayed a number.
『999』
A perfect success.
Instructor Park Changmyeong stared at it for a while, then uncrossed his arms and slowly nodded.
“…Thanks to you, I get to go home early.”
He was always a man of few words.
With an expressionless face, he slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.
Then, he held out his watch.
On the screen, the silver droplet icon was faintly blinking.
I quietly tapped the screen.
[Reward Distributed]
[Solo Kill!]
[Points Earned +500]
[640 pt]
That should be enough.
“There’s something I should tell you. About the hidden area of this test—”
“I already know.”
“…?”
I nodded and quickly exited the simulation room.
Then, I headed straight for the hidden location.
The problem was…
“This makes no sense.”
The hidden area was on the top floor of the Gaon VIP room—
The same place we watched the matches from during midterms.
A place so exclusive that no student would ever dare to think of entering.
I was fine with the location.
After all, I already knew where it was.
But the elevator wasn’t working.
After thinking for a moment, I tilted my head back and looked up at the ceiling.
“Ha…”
I started climbing up the vertical wall, one step at a time.
I stabbed a spear into the wall, stepped onto it, and repeated the process.
This was more dangerous than the actual test.
“I almost died for real.”
Wiping sweat from my forehead with my wrist, I pushed open the glass door to the VIP room.
The door slid open, revealing a quiet interior.
Display shelves came into view.
Gold, silver, and even a resurrection pool.
I slowly scanned the area.
There were items I recognized—and ones I didn’t.
But overall, the quality wasn’t particularly impressive.
Maybe my standards are just too high.
But then—
“Oh?”
[Training Elixir of Awakening]
As expected from Gaon, they’d hidden away a growth-related item.
Among the junky perks and common equipment, this one clearly stood out the most.
I didn’t expect to find it here.
It was a rare item, produced only in small quantities at private workshops.
Drinking this elixir before training massively amplifies the results.
You could get several times more efficiency than usual.
Basically, it was like a Sanctum condensed into a potion.
I looked around the whole place, but this was clearly the best item here.
[Price: 100 pt]
There were six in total.
Just the right amount for my points.
I’d drink one myself.
Then give the rest to Cheon Yeoul, Yu Hana, Kang Arin, Yoon Chae-ha… and Sion…?
If I trained them personally after giving it to them, the effect would multiply even further.
Without hesitation, I brought my watch to the scanner.
Just six.
Beep.
With a beep, a message appeared.
[Items will be delivered after the exam!]
A solid shopping trip.
I checked my remaining points.
[40 pt]
“…Huh?”
Wait a minute.
I headed toward the Resurrection Pool.
[Price: 50 pt]
Offering 50 points here would allow me to revive someone.
Originally, I had planned to bring back Yu Hana…
But now I couldn’t.
“Just unfortunate, I guess.”
Anyway, drinking the elixir and training would probably benefit them more in the long run.
Given Yu Hana’s pursuit of martial prowess, she’d likely prefer this too.
I turned around.
Now, only one more switch of offense and defense remained.