I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 469: Crown of Thorns (1)

Chapter 469: Crown of Thorns (1)

The massive iron pillar smashed the World Tree's branches demonstrably.

Leaves and branches were crushed and fell to the ground like rain but the World Tree wasn't easy to deal with either.

The original destructive power of the Heavenly Collapse Golden Jade lay in completely destroying the surrounding area when it fell to the ground.

However, the World Tree's sturdy and dense branches didn't allow the Heavenly Collapse Golden Jade to fall to the ground.

It had withstood the power of magic that could pulverize a huge cliff with mass alone but Rudger wasn't disappointed.

It was enough to just block the absorption of sunlight and prevent the shooting of light spears, this was his original purpose anyway.

The debris of broken branches and leaves fell to the ground.

Given the size of the World Tree, even the falling branch pieces were comparable to the size of ordinary buildings.

With a thud, one large branch fell and crushed the Wood Zombies gathered below.

The roots crushed by the branches either shook violently or collapsed underneath.

Clouds of dust rose one after another from the debris collisions all over the World Tree.

In the midst of this destruction, Alex and Bereborn crossed swords without giving an inch.

The surroundings were already devastated before, but the situation became more intense as time passed.

Those who had reached the Master level could demonstrate their inherent combat abilities even under fairly adverse conditions.

Forest Walk, which enabled three-dimensional combat by stepping on falling debris, couldn't be ignored either but the current situation was dangerous even for such Master-level powerhouses.

A moment's carelessness could lead to death - it was like walking an extreme tightrope.

In fact, when the two clashed, huge branch debris fell above their heads.

If they engaged in a test of strength now, they would both be crushed to death.

Alex and Bereborn pointed one sword at each other while using their other sword to cut through the debris above their heads.

The scattered debris spread around, simultaneously becoming new obstacles that blocked part of their vision.

The two analyzed each other's blind spots and hid behind the debris while aiming for their opponent's weaknesses.

Their movements through the debris, searching for each other's openings, looked like dancing in the rain.

In the few seconds it took for the debris to fall to the ground.

In that instant, white flashes of swords cutting through space flickered dozens of times in the air.

It was an extreme battle of techniques linking one after another.

A dance choreographed with every step calculated.

However, that fight resulted in a perfect draw with neither winner nor loser.

Bereborn started to feel rushed.

"Hey, Elf brother. You don't look too good."

Having his senses awakened to the maximum, Alex could tell Bereborn's condition.

The guy could still fight, but he was getting mentally cornered bit by bit.

The reason was probably due to the series of events unfolding above.

'Well, I was surprised too. Who would have thought that that monster of an old man would show up here.'

Alex had seen it.

During his fierce battle with Bereborn, he saw a man who twisted and pierced through one of the World Tree's roots in a spiral form.

That torrent of power was unbelievable even after seeing it.

He couldn't have been mistaken.

Luther Wardot, the Empire's strongest swordsman, had personally come here.

"This is worrying. The person who just passed by is a very scary old man. What was it again? The strongest swordsman?"

"..."

Bereborn silently pointed his sword at Alex.

The tip of his sword became blurry, then struck down vertically from Alex's crown to his groin.

Of course, Alex, who had read that precursor, avoided the attack by simply taking one step to the side.

Bereborn, who was about to launch a follow-up attack, had to step back due to falling debris above.

If he tried to cut through the debris, Alex would use that gap to come at him.

"You look quite impatient."

Alex continued to provoke such a Bereborn.

He could see small gaps forming in the mind of that seemingly emotionless iron wall of a person.

Originally, fighting isn't done with pure swordsmanship alone.

Even the most excellent knight cannot properly exert their strength when their mind is shaken and they feel anxious.

Alex knew this, so he continued to shake Bereborn.

Certainly, it was a trivial matter but in such an extreme situation, that trivial difference leads to big results.

Even a small crack would do because cracks grow larger over time and become gaps that manifest outwardly.

Bereborn knew this too, so he controlled his mind to avoid being swayed by Alex.

What bothered Bereborn even more than that was Alex's skill growing during their fight.

"I thought I had stripped off all the rags stuck to your body."

The protective artifacts Alex had worn no longer existed.

The equipment that had narrowed the gap in skill between them had disappeared, but in that time Alex had already grown to match his level.

In just a few minutes, he had caught up to swordsmanship that had been developed and refined over hundreds of years.

‘Monster.’

Alex's talent was hard to find across the entire continent.

It wouldn't happen, but if by any chance he were to be defeated here and Alex grew even stronger using him as nourishment.

He wondered if there would be any swordsman who could face him.

So he would kill him here.

Bereborn finished steeling himself to sacrifice one of his arms if needed.

To kill this human who had now become his equal, he too would have to accept some sacrifices.

Seeing Bereborn's momentum change, Alex smiled but his eyes shone brilliantly.

"Sorry, but you can't beat me anymore."

"Is that so?"

"No, really! If you don't believe me, why don't you try?"

-Boom! Thud!

Branches of the World Tree fell around the two facing each other.

For a moment, a cloud of dust obscured their view of each other.

That was the signal.

Alex and Bereborn rushed at each other simultaneously.

Their shadows intertwined in the dust cloud blocking their vision.

Following that, the dust cloud was torn to pieces by the aftermath of their exchanged sword strikes.

Large scars and furrows appeared where the intense air pressure brushed past.

Green light, the manifestation of nature's energy, surged from Bereborn's sword.

Gray aura also flickered sharply on Alex's sword.

Speed, technique, power, the two who were equal in everything now refused to back down, thinking to see the end.

Red blood flowed as cuts were carved one by one into the bodies of the two swordsmen.

"Uwaaaaah!"

Bereborn screamed with his eyes wide open.

All the techniques accumulated over hundreds of years were unleashed without reserve in this moment.

‘Kill that human and save Lord Ventmin.’

Because she was the one who showed him his reason for living.

Even if everyone else said he was just a hunting dog, Ventmin just saw him as a convenient game piece.

That alone was good. It was enough.

Even if everyone pointed fingers at her, he alone would always support her.

He would take even one piece of filth thrown at her on his body instead.

So Bereborn earnestly prayed for victory in this moment.

"You..."

Alex's eyes went round as he read Bereborn's will that had never been shown before.

I see. You too, just like me...

A bitter and self-deprecating smile formed at the corners of his mouth.

The Alex who had been constantly trying to provoke and scratch at Bereborn was gone in this moment.

He felt a sense of kinship with the swordsman before him, a man who had devoted everything out of love for one woman.

"I completely understand how you feel but I won't apologize because I too have reasons why I can't lose."

Alex said this while making changes to his sword.

‘Vortex.’

Bereborn's green energy that touched Alex's aura began to twist as if caught in a fierce current.

"H-How?"

"That old man showed us when he passed by just now."

Bereborn thought he needed to eliminate Alex before he grew even stronger.

With their skills being equal now, he thought he needed to kill him with the determination to sacrifice even one of his arms.

He thought now was the perfect time without external interference but that was Bereborn's misunderstanding.

From the moment they exchanged their final clash, Alex had already surpassed Bereborn.

'I was overtaken?'

Just by seeing Luther Wardot demonstrate his swordsmanship once as he passed by, Alex had taken another step forward in this moment.

It wasn't mere interference.

With just a technique briefly shown in passing, Alex had grown demonstrably.

‘A monster of talent.’

Bereborn felt an illusion that the human before his eyes had become much larger than himself.

His sword path wavered and deviated from its course as it mixed with the gray vortex and a streak of gray flash cut diagonally across his chest.

There was no sound but Bereborn silently looked down at his chest.

The breastplate of his armor was split and blood was flowing down.

"I see. So this is where I..."

Bereborn smiled faintly at the sight.

It was the first emotion to appear on his expressionless face.

Bereborn took a step forward with a resolute expression while trying to keep his eyes from slowly closing.

Alex's single strike had already reached his heart.

The blood overflowing from his chest gushed more violently with that movement but that was fine.

In this moment. At the moment when he thought his opponent had completely let their guard down.

Even if it was just one strike, if he could just succeed with one attack...

"That's not going to happen."

-Slash.

The sword in his hand was knocked away.

He hadn't let go of the sword - Alex's sword had cut his wrist.

Bereborn's final strike that burned his last life force had already been anticipated by Alex.

"H-How..."

Bereborn asked Alex with a pale face.

‘How did you know I would make such an attack at the end?’

"I told you I understand you. You have the face of a man fighting for a precious woman."

Alex's answer was clear.

"Someone like that wouldn't give up from just such an injury. That's why I didn't let my guard down. Because I would have done the same."

But it wasn't mockery.

Rather, it was the highest praise Alex could give to his opponent.

Bereborn finally realized that he had been surpassed in both skill and will, and that the man who had fought so fiercely was someone who understood his position.

"I see."

This end, being acknowledged by someone, isn't too bad.

Thinking that, Bereborn closed his eyes and collapsed to the side.

Alex silently prayed for Bereborn's peaceful rest, then lifted his head to look up.

All sorts of brilliant magic were exploding one after another up there.

Rudger seemed to be doing something, but just from the waves of power that could be felt, it was clear he was pushing himself quite hard.

"My fate really is bizarre."

Alex grumbled while jumping up onto the debris.

* * *

Rudger focused all his mental energy to cast successive spells while absorbing mana by consuming artifacts and receiving power from Hans who had been transformed into a vessel.

He had to burn that harsh mana amplification drug like tobacco just to use one spell.

However, now he was controlling vast mana dozens of times greater than that.

Though outwardly calm, his head throbbed as if about to burst from calculations alone.

If it weren't for the source code's support, he might have already been spewing blood from his eyes and nose but it's fine because he had sufficiently fulfilled his role of opening the path with this.

The army of Wood Zombies was swept away, and even most of the World Tree's roots were lost.

As if they had been waiting for that moment, Luther, Ambella, and Vierano charged straight ahead.

Behind Vierano, who broke through like a gale with wind spirits at the forefront, Ambella and Luther provided support.

"You insect-like bastards!"

Ventmin stretched out her hand toward the three charging in while blocking Rudger's magic.

Her fingertips split lengthwise and countless tree trunks burst forth.

They grew from the size of a finger to that of massive trees while splitting into two or three.

In an instant, a tsunami of trees blocked their view.

"I'll open it!"

Ambella swung her sword widely as if she had been waiting for this.

She concentrated her energy and released at the moment of maximization.

The world before their eyes was split in half.

The green tsunami that was rushing to crush the three split left and right, and the three dashed through that gap without losing momentum.

Whether shooting golden arrows, swinging tree roots, or spraying acidic sap, each was far from enough to stop the three who had already reached the realm of absolute beings.

Ventmin decided this wouldn't happen and chose to ignore Rudger's magic to focus on the three people.

-Woong.

The World Tree vibrated greatly once again.

The surrounding area darkened as if night had fallen again, and the World Tree shone brighter.

The World Tree's attack that had swept away the moderate faction's army in one strike was coming.

Should they dodge? Or defend? Or block it right away?

Vierano thought this but soon gritted his teeth.

"Just keep running!"

Sensing the strange conviction in his voice, Luther and Ambella exchanged glances once and nodded simultaneously.

Seeing the three continue without stopping, Ventmin's lips curled into a cruel smile.

This is an attack that swept away an army in one strike.

No matter who you three are, you can't come out of this unscathed.

The absorbed light gathered in one place and transformed into a massive cluster of destruction.

The energy pulsing like a heart was finally shot out in one direction.

Like pouring light into a giant funnel and letting it flow through a narrow opening everything around turned white.

Darkness growing suddenly in the midst of that was almost simultaneous.

"This is what I was waiting for."

Along with Rudger's voice that couldn't possibly be heard, a new magic was cast.

6th Tier Dark Attribute Grand Magic [Abyss of Blind Ignorance]

A massive darkness vortex reminiscent of a black hole swallowed the World Tree's light.