Central Pathway.
“Hmph.”
The 2nd Company led by Kim Seyun confronted a formidable enemy force of nearly 1,000.
The Central Pathway was about 1.5 times wider than the sides, making the pressure feel significantly more intense.
The sense of intimidation was more than just a simple matter of outnumbering forces.
Even with the 10th Platoon of the 2nd Company, experienced with Kim Seyun and Pest, the 2nd Company itself was not considered the ace of the battalion.
Furthermore, Park Jinsung and Byun Kiyoung had been dispersed to the left and right.
“The left side, where the third-years were, has been annihilated…”
Kim Seyun said with a notably heavy expression.
The information coming through the earpiece was hardly positive.
“It seems our squad leader is down too. How foolish.”
The view before Kim Seyun was a grim testament to the brutal battle.
The ground was ruptured in places, guardrails bent outward, and several soldiers from 998 Brigade were still unable to rise.
“Alright, fine. Let’s see what you’ve got, 998.”
The reason the seemingly weaker 2nd Company had managed to hold on so far.
The reason they could briefly confront the enemy, despite being outnumbered more than three to one in a wider area.
Shwing!
As Kim Seyun charged the Celestial Sign Blade with power, the constellation patterns drawn on the blade began to shine brightly.
[White Jade Goblin]
World Spirit Ranking System: A
Manifests the White Jade Goblin around the caster’s body.
Current Generation Goblin: Sword Expert Advanced (Intermediate↑)
Overall Combat Ability: A (B+↑)
[Celestial Sign Blade (四寅斬邪劒)]
Only swordsmen of A grade or higher in the World Spirit Ranking System can wield it.
Amplifies the wielder’s energy.
Allows the caster to cut through Edeyas of A grade or higher depending on their ability.
“Aura Plate!!”
Flames, or aura as it is also known, enveloped Kim Seyun’s entire body.
The aura, through the Sign Blade, expanded to form a perfectly fitting armor around Kim Seyun.
The armor had a peculiar appearance, being both blurry and opaque.
A monumental technique drawn out by a goblin that had reached the advanced level of Sword Expert.
[White Jade Goblin, Aura Plate]
Overall Combat Ability: A
Defensive Power: A+++
Flutter!
Finally, a blue-hued aura cloak unfurled, fluttering in the wind along with Kim Seyun’s loose hair.
Kim Seyun stood upright, intently watching 998 Brigade.
Despite standing on the same flat ground, there was a significant aura of dominance, as if looking down from above.
“The right side seems… alright, it seems fine. Truly a top candidate for a husband.”
The epiphany of reaching Sword Expert Advanced came unexpectedly during a lesson. It was while Kim Seyun was chin-in-hand, studying about first aid.
Although the leap to advanced level was significant, unfortunately, the ability was not specialized for offense.
Kim Seyun, slightly anxious, sought advice from the 10th Platoon leader and the health teacher but received only overly generous offers instead of answers.
“Sigh.”
Kim Seyun thought that fighting Park Jinsung might relieve this frustration. Whether Park Jinsung understood his wife’s heart or not, he was adept at eating chicken deliciously.
After much dilly-dallying, they finally arrived here, and the technique to create armor with aura was perfected.
“Hmph… It’s unlikely that 300 can overcome 1,000…. But you too shall not advance any further.”
“Hehehe. You’re quite the pretty goblin, but our compatibility isn’t great.”
Yuk Dongho hunched his shoulders significantly as he moved among his allies. He thought he was hiding, but a person as tall as him in every direction couldn’t be hidden.
Throughout this time, Kim Seyun impeccably defended the central path, which was over 1.5 times wider than the sides.
Even though 998 Brigade sent some of their strongest soldiers to stop Kim Seyun, they nearly suffered a loss in strength instead.
“Chug-chug, puff-puff. The goblin is too thick. Can’t penetrate.”
[Dream of Becoming a Runaway Train]
World Spirit Ranking System: B+
Anyone who collides with the owner receives an impact three times greater than the owner.
The stamina used for running can be substituted with the heat accumulated in the body.
Overall Combat Ability: B++
Even the train fanatic from 998 Brigade, who suddenly caused hit-and-runs, couldn’t penetrate Kim Seyun’s Aura Plate.
He barely escaped before his bracelet was destroyed, which, in reality, required the sacrifice of as many as fifteen regular soldiers.
“Hehe. We can’t penetrate that one. That’s really crazy.”
Yuk Dongho, who had overpowered Ahn Sungho, felt the same.
Kim Seyun and Yuk Dongho’s matchup was even worse than Ahn Sungho and Yuk Dongho’s compatibility.
[Not Only I Get Fat]
Increases the weight of any object or person it comes into contact with, including all the armor they’re wearing.
The owner’s body weight can also increase in the same proportion, and they can designate which part.
It merely increases the weight, preserving all the original abilities intact.
Maximum Weight Increase Rate: 20 times
When Kim Seyun attacked, her weapon became 20 times heavier, turning the strike not just into a slash but almost into a smash.
‘I’m glad I watched Ahn Sungho’s video.’
Initially, Kim Seyun wasn’t just unilaterally caught by the hefty Yuk Dongho; she was only caught when she was attacking.
‘The left side has collapsed, so it’s about time to move.’
Attacking Kim Seyun along with other soldiers didn’t yield any effective strategy. Despite being on the widest central path, they couldn’t manage anything against just Kim Seyun, leading to a standoff.
“Aah?! Why aren’t you attacking quickly?! Do you want to die?!”
“Hehe! We were waiting for Jinno to come!”
Kang Jinno violently pushed his own team members aside and leaped forward towards Kim Seyun. He pushed so roughly that some soldiers’ bracelets broke.
Stomp, stomp, stomp!
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Kim Seyun and Kang Jinno moved forward as if in sync.
While Kim Seyun walked leisurely but confidently, Kang Jinno walked with all his might, as if he was the number one.
“Aah! Are you the White Goblin?!”
“……”
“Wow! Pretty! I want to join your battalion too! Why does Haeun Battalion have so many women who are my type?!”
“So you’re Kang Jinno? The one bragging about defeating Ahn Sungho. So? What happened to the left side?”
“Hahahaha! What happened?! I wiped them all out….”
Kang Jinno finished his sentence with a lowered tone at the end.
His laughter was coated with a false bravado.
The central pathway was overwhelmed by the murderous intent leaking from Kang Jinno. Shoulders felt as if burdened with heavy loads, and the insides churned painfully.
“You’ve had a hard time. But it might be a bit difficult with me. Better start challenging, you pathetic giant.”
“Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye!!”
Kang Jinno yelled, staring intensely at Kim Seyun.
“Hehe. Jinno, everyone’s listening.”
“Summon the slide! It’s a massacre!”
“Hehe? Already? It’s unsettling with the goblin here.”
“Do you also want to become sawdust?!”
“Hic! No, no! Prepare the slide unit!!”
About 30 soldiers gathered around Yuk Dongho.
Kim Seyun confidently brushed her hair back in front of Kang Jinno.
“Hmph. You can’t break through me. 1,000 men won’t do… If you want to break through the best, bring at least 2,000.”
“Aah?! I wonder if you’ll still say that when you have a hole in your stomach?!”
“Don’t get cocky just because you’ve managed to handle the mediocre forces on the left.”
“Eeesh! So the third-year sergeants weren’t the battalion’s strongest force?!”
“Obviously. The title of the best always belongs to our White Jade Kim.”
Whoosh!
Blue flames surged from the Aura Plate Kim Seyun was wearing. In response, Kang Jinno’s mirage also started to fiercely ripple.
Crackle, crackle!
Each collision of the aura and the mirage produced a sound akin to metal clashing.
“Hey! White Goblin! Take me on! If it’s you, I’d be satisfied!”
“What are you saying, you lunatic. Sigh… Nowadays, every Tom, Dick, and Harry is hitting on me. I really need to get married soon. Oh, and…”
“Aaaargh?!”
“I don’t date anyone weaker than me.”
“Hahahahahahaha!! Fine! It’s not too late to conquer you after trampling all over you! Hehe, isn’t it time yet?!”
The soldiers gathered around Yuk Dongho created snake-like twisting legs.
These constructs, though called legs, looked much more like slides, making that term far more appropriate.
The slides created in the middle of the 998 formation,
Click. Whoosh-click…!
Stretched across the cliff to reach the area where the battalion forces were gathered.
‘…This is bad. This negates the advantage of controlling the pathway.’
Kim Seyun thought as she looked at the slides passing by her from a distance.
The so-called pathway landing operation.
There were various types of slides made of dirt, metal, wood, etc.
Regardless, the thirty or so slides completely nullified the advantage the pathway offered.
“Aah? What are you looking at! You’re only going to play with me for a while?!”
“Hmph. That’s right. You were initially the infiltration brigade.”
Kim Seyun bit her lower lip tightly.
The slides curved as much as possible towards the cliff before arriving on the battalion’s side. They were arranged to be only vulnerable to long-range bombardment.
‘And 998 Brigade must have prepared for our long-range bombardment as well. We can’t afford the blind spot of not being able to destroy the slides in a training scenario.’
As Kim Seyun predicted, a particularly large number of soldiers gathered around those who raised the slides. These men were not in a formation intending to advance.
“Hahaha! The rest of you, charge! Run a bit more before you die, you sawdust brats!! Aaaargh?!”
“Waaaahhhhhhhhh!!”
As the 998 soldiers charged forward, they quickly landed in the middle of the battalion through the slides.
The slides were like an ancient monster with thirty heads, a worst-case Hydra continuously spewing the venom of 998 soldiers.
“This would surely make even Hercules cry.”
“I am so, so angry…. This world is full of too many weaklings…. But you’ll last a bit longer, won’t you? Right? Huh?! Say yes, now!!”
[Abandoned Anger]
World Spirit Ranking System: A++
Stage 2 Fury: Grip Strength
Overall Combat Ability: A (Rage)
Woooom!
Kang Jinno, fueling his anger on his own, concentrated the mirage into his fist.
“……”
In front were Kang Jinno and the 998 soldiers charging madly.
Behind were the 998 soldiers continuously landing through the slides.
Looking both ways, it was all 998. With just 300 soldiers, the 2nd Company couldn’t stop the 1,000 attacking from multiple directions.
“What do we do?!”
“We need to destroy the slides!”
Moreover, with such a rapid onslaught, there wasn’t even a chance to target the slides. It was a choice without choices, an unnecessary worry born from a sort of arrogance.
“Hmph… Should we somehow buy just one moment?”
“Aah…?”
Whoosh!!
Kim Seyun’s Aura Plate expanded its territory with a terrifying momentum, nearly blocking the middle of the pathway on her own.
“Goblin Swordsmanship…!”
Kim Seyun’s form precisely split into three. The massive energy dominating the pathway did the same.
The two forms, other than her real body, each swung their swords horizontally towards the 998 soldiers.
Swoosh!!
“Goblin! The goblin’s aura is flying at us!!”
“What is this, arggh!”
The aura from the forms shattered the guardrails and struck 998 from the sides.
The length of the amplified aura reached a staggering 5 meters. The 998 soldiers, charging gleefully, had no time to evade and were struck down to the ground.
“Eesh! It’s effective! Say it’s effective, you brat!!”
“……”
The aura swung by her real body at Kang Jinno stopped right in front of his head. The mirage, shredded by the aura, barely managed to defend.
“Hahahaha! It’s quite something! But it seems it’ll break through! Right?!”
The power of the Goblin Swordsmanship was impressive, but the number of 998 forces was also formidable. The sight of them filling gaps as their comrades fell showcased what swarm tactics were.
“…come.”
“Aah?! Are you scared?! I can’t hear youuuuu!!”
Kim Seyun let out a charming chuckle even as more of 998 charged at her.
“This much should draw them out. Right?”
“Aah…?”
“Madam! We’ve arrived!!”
The voices Kim Seyun had been waiting for emerged from behind the 2nd Company.
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