There Is No World For ■■

* * *Crakkakkakak!!Seeing how Yeomyeong dealt with the ice spikes, Corvus clacked her beak in admiration. It was an act worthy of awe.Yeomyeong’s response—deflecting, blocking, and dodging the magic—was so flawless that it looked as if he had experienced countless such battles before.“What sort of hellish battles have you lived through at your age?”There was no answer from him. Instead, seizing the opportunity, Yeomyeong charged forward at an incredible speed and brought down his sword.Clang!Corvus blocked his sword with her mana-infused talons.The martial art known as Limitless Path of Self Enlightenment collided with the mana from the Surging Wave, and Corvus used the force to create some distance.And again, ice spikes.Yeomyeong let out a sound that was either a curse or a sigh as he dodged the ice spikes and rolled on the ground.What ensued was a one-sided exchange—Ice spikes flying in and Yeomyeong blocking them.If Corvus decided to use higher-level magic instead of ice spikes, even Yeomyeong would have been subdued in an instant, but…However, she hadn’t brought a staff with her, and more importantly, the location was an issue.This was an academy with students residing on-campus, and magic powerful enough to subdue a superhuman like Yeomyeong in one strike would end up causing a lot of trouble.Well, I’m already causing quite a mess, though.Hence, even if it took a little longer, Corvus was determined to bring this duel to a close with just the ice spikes.Actually, things had already deviated from her original plan.Her initial plan was to simply beat up Yeomyeong, gradually draining the killing intent from him.However, Yeomyeong’s skills had surpassed her expectations.Reaction speed, depth of martial arts, instantaneous judgment, and overwhelming physical strength.None of these were at the level of a student. He was at a level that made mockery of the common misconception that he was only able to defeat the dragons in Manchuria thanks to the Saintes’ blessing.Though it made her look foolish, she didn’t feel unpleasant.On the contrary, she felt rather relieved that she had accepted the invitation to come to the academy.If not for the special connection she had that brought her here as an invited professor, how else would a Beastfolk like her get the opportunity to take on such a talented human as an apprentice?She suppressed the smile creeping up her lips. The fight was not over yet.And now… he’ll probably shoot out some Sword Aura.Flash!As expected, Sword Aura flew at her. It was a precisely timed attack that aimed for the moment of spell casting—whether it was due to his keen eyesight to read spells or an exceptionally high mana sensitivity.Either way, the Sword Aura was a seasoned attack that would make most Mages lose their heads immediately.However, Corvus was no ordinary Mage, and she accepted the incoming Sword Aura with her body.“You continue to amaze me.”Though blood flowed from the shoulder that was hit by the Sword Aura, Corvus paid it no mind and focused on Yeomyeong.“Gasp, gasp…”Was he running out of stamina? Ragged breaths were escaping Yeomyeong’s mouth.This was only natural. After all, he had just engaged in a fierce slugfest with Corvus and had already managed to block as many as hundreds of ice spikes.Whatever elixir he had taken, it was a miracle that a boy his age still had mana left after such a battle.But it seems like he is nearing his limit.In his current state, the moment Yeomyeong allowed even a single ice spike, it would be like the dam breaking, and he would fall.Victory was within her grasp, but Corvus did not relax.A master always had a final move prepared, and Yeomyeong had already proven himself to be worthy of being called a master.However, Yeomyeong’s next move was far beyond her expectations.“…Comet Sword?”As soon as Corvus saw the white light gathering around Yeomyeong’s sword, she narrowed her eyes.How was a martial art that was supposedly in the hands of the Holy Sword over here?She didn’t have much time to ponder. Regardless of how Yeomyeong acquired that technique, it was up to her to block it immediately.

“The snow-covered gate is closed firmly, and the snow-covered yard does not welcome guests.”

Corvus muttered a short spell.

Following the emerging imagery, mana arranged itself, and thick ice and snow surged up according to her spell.And in just 2 seconds, a shining ice wall rose from the ground.It was near-miraculous speed, but it was not fast enough to block the Comet Sword.Flash!Before the thick ice wall was even complete, the light of the Comet Sword enveloped both the wall and Corvus simultaneously.Being a Sword Aura that could even slice through dragon scales, the hastily erected ice wall couldn’t endure it even for a second.BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!The Sword Aura exploded, sending ice shards flying in all directions. Mana pushed against the air, scattering the shattered pieces.Like the aftermath of a bomb explosion, the trees in the surroundings toppled one after another.The scene was in ruins, but Yeomyeong, who had created this scene, looked frustrated as he stared at the other side of the ice debris.“…How were you able to dodge it?”From behind a tree in the distance, where the fragments hadn’t reached, Corvus walked out unscathed and answered.“I mixed Wind Acceleration Magic into the Moonset Step. It is my own trick.”The two terms were unfamiliar to him, but grasping their meaning wasn’t difficult. It likely meant that she had accelerated the technique by incorporating magic into her martial arts.Yeomyeong gauged his remaining mana and spoke.“…I’m sick of dodging ice spikes. Can’t we just use our fists for the final part?”Corvus smiled broadly as she created dozens of ice spikes.“I will give in to half of your request by using both ice spikes and fists.”“…”“Give it your best till the end.”Yeomyeong shut his mouth, nodded, and invoked a technique he was yet to use.Swoosh!A blue haze surrounded his body.It was Mara’s Demonic Art. As he unleashed the martial arts filled with Killing Aura, ice spikes rained down at Yeomyeong.Some hit and some missed, but none were really effective.The heat haze itself was a form of armor, and the magic on the level of ice spikes would be dispersed just by making contact.Corvus could only admire the sight.“Just as I saw last night, it is no ordinary martial art. It would be much better if you are able to control your Killing Aura.”Regardless of that admiration, she did not cease with the ice spikes. They just had to distract Yeomyeong to serve their purpose.Corvus watched Yeomyeong swat away the spikes for a moment, then, as if an idea just occurred to her, she clasped her hands in a prayer-like manner.“Yeomyeong, since I have managed to exhaust your cards today, I will show you mine.”Yeomyeong wanted to ask her to put a stop to the ice spikes instead of what she had offered before, but Corvus was faster.“The martial art I am about to use is called the Black Wing Flow. It differs from all the ordinary martial arts I demonstrated earlier; you can even say that it is my own secret technique.”Soon, black mana began to emanate from her body.Unlike Mara’s Demonic Art, which emitted a heat haze, the black mana from the Black Wing Flow erupted, spreading out like black feathers.Being sensitive to mana, Yeomyeong could immediately tell that it was a high-level martial art comparable to the Surging Wave technique and it was different from Mara’s Demonic Art.If the Demonic Art was armor and fists powered by mana, the Black Wing Flow was like a pipe that facilitated the smooth flow of mana.From head to toe, from the main arteries to the microvasculature.A martial art that forcibly opened all the mana channels in the body.Ordinary Superhumans could manipulate mana according to their martial art, so they did not need to open all channels.A martial art designed for Superhumans who walked the path of both magic and martial arts—a unique martial art that only belonged to Corvus.For most others, especially Yeomyeong, there was neither a need nor a reason to learn that technique because he didn’t know how to use magic.However, the moment Corvus, scattering black feathers, closed the distance, Yeomyeong asked without realizing it.“…What is the true intention of the Black Wing Flow?”It was an unexpected and rude question. How could he casually ask about the true intention of a martial art?However, since Corvus already regarded him as an apprentice, she replied without hesitation.“Choosing the path between the crossroads, where I go is the way.”The true intention of Corvus’s life. Faced with this, Yeomyeong’s gaze lost its focus as he stared at her and…Suddenly closed his eyes.It was baffling for Corvus, who had been trying to unleash his Killing Aura.“…Did he just fall into a state of perfect selflessness? All of a sudden?”Her voice mixed with astonishment as the last thing he heard as Yeomyeong’s consciousness fell deep into his mind.

* * *Yeomyeong woke up in a forest filled with the scent of blood.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

On the green-tinted ground, trees so thick that they couldn’t be encircled by arms, along with some familiar corpses densely stacked together.He stared at the forest for a while, unable to regain his senses, before recalling what happened before he opened his eyes.The memory of losing consciousness as soon as he heard the true intention of the Black Wing Flow from Corvus.Could it be… it seems like I’ve fallen into a state of perfect selflessness.He didn’t panic. He had already experienced something like this before.Wasn’t this what happened when he heard about the true intention of the Surging Wave technique from Seti?Back then, he had suddenly fallen into a trance without any warning.The only difference now was… that he wasn’t alone.- What are you staring at, you idiot?To his right stood a crimson elephant that had the exact same voice as Mara.Their massive figure was large enough to tower over Yeomyeong, with fluttering ears and long tusks; the typical appearance of a male Indian elephant.Yet, the human Mara he had seen before had such an androgynous appearance that it was impossible to tell if they were male or female……Were they actually a man?And while Yeomyeong was lost in such trivial thoughts, he heard a voice calling him from the left.- Um… Dung Beetle-ssi? Where exactly are we?A blonde girl was looking around in confusion.Yeomyeong shrugged as he looked at her, who had her hair elegantly styled in a bun.“This is probably my dream.”- Huh? Where did you say?“I said this is my dream. And I should be the one asking questions. Miridith, why are you here?”Faced with Yeomyeong’s question, the elf princess blinked as if she didn’t understand the situation.A brief silence ensued.Just as Mara swung his trunk to graze on the grass, Miridith spoke again.- Um… May, May I ask you something, just in case?“What?”- Are you, by any chance, having a wet dream… about me? I mean, me and that… that elephant?Before Miridith could even finish, Mara burst into laughter. It was a laughter so boisterous, that it seemed like the entire forest was shaking.“…”Of course, Yeomyeong couldn’t laugh.