104 - I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City

Achievement Unlocked: Encounter with Omega, Traitor of Humanity. You've been awarded 40 points. Ah, memories. It's been quite some time since achievements were unlocked just by meeting someone. When she encountered Juyeon, it granted her 50 points. Although the reward points aren't solely based on one's combat prowess, such as Omega barely reaching a stalemate after setting up for Juyeon, it seems like a reasonable point allocation. Moreover, why is his title "Traitor of Humanity"? It's an appellation not only used for Omega but also when one encounters Hex. Even Rohan doesn't understand why it's not "Reflux Advocates" but "Traitors of Humanity." The community is rife with speculations since Abyss City hasn't reached the story part where the full significance of the achievement is clear. But now wasn't the time for such thoughts. Death, not even allowing him to despair, arrived before Rohan. "This is absurd," he concluded. An utterly unreasonable predicament, indeed. In the vastness of this uninhabited island, what were the odds he'd end up at Omega's emergence point? "You must be a student of the Academy. Haha! You've come to the right place!" The pressure emanated naturally from Omega, who emerged from the worm. Even though there was no intent in the air, Rohan nearly dropped his sword. "Alright, I see... so this is how you infiltrated," he mused. Quite the opposite of Juyeon. The thick, murderous aura wasn't concealed, reeking of bloodlust and sheer malice. He was sure that if Omega had a soul, it would be the color of coal. "Calm down," he told himself. His slender thread of hope lay in the pact Omega had with Hex. "The kid's going to be pleased. Maybe I should send him a sample." — Kuweeee! The worm, with its gaping mouth, was ready to swallow Rohan whole, as if it had come to deliver Omega contained in its belly. "Just as expected." They were trying to capture the Academy student, proving the existence of the pact between Hex and Omega. Feeling relieved by a small sense of relief in the tense atmosphere, Rohan lowered his posture, keeping focused on the hope of survival. “I won’t die. I won’t die. I won’t die. As long as I buy time, things will work out.” A homicidal maniac with a penchant for murder, but he wouldn’t kill. That was enough for Rohan. His composure returned, and clarity restored his breathing. "Hoo!" Omega found Rohan’s resilience laughable. With a shriveled, charred face from past burns, he smirked. "Quite a bold one, aren't you? Show me your tricks." — Kiiiaaaa!!! The worm pressed its enormous form against the earth, opening its grotesque maw wide to devour Rohan. Rohan clenched his sword tightly, glaring. "Will the sword penetrate?" The worm's size and color differed from those in textbooks. Probably a monster that Hex modified with an entity. “Fiery Blade,” Rohan murmured. His sword glowed red with heat. As he prepared for the Heavenly Fiery Judgement Sword, sparks emerged from his body. "Fire?" Omega crinkled his face as fragments of flame seeped from Rohan. The fear from that day when his body was consumed by flames hadn't entirely left Omega. Deeply entrenched in his psyche, the only way to overcome this trauma is by defeating Juyeon, who subjected him to fiery anguish. “This damned heat makes me change my mind,” he sneered, clicking his tongue as he halted the worm. He lost his momentum. Encountering a fire-wielding novice from the outset didn't sit well with him. It irritated him that the kid didn’t just plead and ask for mercy. ‘Before the main event, perhaps I'll enjoy a little fun.' As long as he sent a student with limbs intact back to Hex, there were plenty of entertainments and acts within that limit. Crack!!! Blue octopus tentacles sprouted from Omega's back. His physique was a monstrous amalgamation, and the thick tentacles wiggled, aiming for Rohan. “You, kid.” “...” “You're a quiet one. Not even showing surprise or asking questions.” Omega found Rohan peculiar, almost to the extent of wanting to peek inside his brain. What was this kid thinking? "Fine. Let's see how you fare with your friends." Rohan widened his eyes at the word 'friends.’ Sensing an intensifying presence, he shouted as he turned. "Don't come!!! Go back, all of you!!!" Omega chuckled at the boy screaming with his veins bulging. "Finally, he's showing the reaction I've been wanting." Omega's tentacles extended toward the bushes. Too swift for even Rohan’s gaze to track. "Aaah!" Corin was snatched by a tentacle in an instant. Simultaneously, judgment was executed. Noa and Ichinose emerged from the forest, with Rohan charging at Omega. Rohan's dual thrusts, Ichinose's blade unsheathing, Noa's kick. Omega accepted them all without a flinch. “The Academy students are not too shabby. More useful than your average soldier.” Rohan’s Fiery Blade thrust was aimed straight at the throat but didn’t pierce even a nail's breadth. Ichinose’s sword, attacking the tentacle binding Corin, met the same tough resistance. Even Noa's kick directly connected to the temple resulted in zero movement from Omega’s head. Precision struck, but it dealt no damage. A vast, insurmountable wall. The gap felt overwhelming to the three. "But who is this guy!" “This...is concerning,” Ichinose and Noa voiced their worries as they retreated. Understanding the gravity of the situation, their expressions turned incredibly serious. “...” Rohan was not pleased with the reinforcement arriving after sensing their presence. Even if he told them to flee, they wouldn’t leave Corin behind, and Omega wouldn't let them go anyway. 'This is dangerous. The worst.' Omega, now regarding the empty field, needed to use his magic prowess to provoke Juyeon. The unsettling progression omitted the escalation process. Though Omega relished his personal pleasures and recalled Hex's promise to capture the students, his pursuit of self-indulgence meant Juyeon's response was naturally delayed. The uninhabited island must be utter chaos right now. “Little ones, where has your earlier spirit run off to? Come at me again if you dare.” “Gah…!” Corin struggled as the tentacle gripped her with measured force, enough to hurt but not to crush. Omega grinned, playing with the apprehension of the trio. Silently, they each moved to take their positions. Omega, arms crossed, inspected the female students with a keen eye. At that moment, his initial irritation with Rohan was forgotten. Recognizing a prize, he thought, “Ah, indeed, these are the key ingredients.” It was obvious who they were. Hex had insisted on these targets: Ichinose Jun’s daughter and a descendant of the Great Tiger Clan. Creak! From Omega's shoulder, a red serpent emerged, raising its head. As the three rushed forward to counter his next move, the serpent's head unleashed a malevolent wail. — Screeeeech!!! The status effect instilled upon the students was sheer terror, squeezing their hearts with fear. A nightmarish compulsion of dread shrank their consciousness, shaking their minds into submission. “Ah, ah… ah…” Corin, ensnared by a tentacle, foamed at the mouth and lost consciousness. It was a pitiful sight, but Ichinose and Noa found themselves paralyzed, unable to move. Collapsing where they stood was inevitable, and dropping their weapons a natural consequence. “Ugh…!” “Oof!” Ichinose and Noa couldn’t hold back their nausea against the forceful assault on their senses. However, they managed to retain their consciousness, a testament to their proximity to powerful individuals. “Hahaha!” Omega burst into laughter upon seeing the two girls still conscious, realizing that even young, they bore impressive lineage resilience. But beyond his expectations lay an anomaly. Omega turned his gaze to the male student, absent from Hex's primary list. ‘A mental defense skill, perhaps?’ Despite not possessing an extraordinary amount of magical energy, he maintains perfect clarity of mind. The boy is frozen physically, but his consciousness remains sharp. ‘Or could he just possess that strong of a will to endure?’ Either way, it's something that piques Omega's interest. Rohan had gotten what he wanted. “There’s no time to lie down like this,” he thought. Rohan decided on an extreme measure to regain composure. His eyes fell on a solid rock protruding from the ground. He repeatedly slammed his head against it, forcing himself to dull the imposed terror. “…” Blood splattered in all directions. Both Omega and the two students watched his actions in shock. "Lee Rohan. Pull yourself together. Don’t be pathetic." For someone who had brushed death so many times in his past life, shrinking in a situation where the enemy sought to capture, not kill? That's unacceptable, sheer disgrace. “Haa,” he inhaled deeply as blood trickled from his forehead. The sharp pain slowly restored control over his limbs. ‘This is it. I'm moving.’ Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. His heart hammered against his chest. ‘Don’t tremble. Stand up. Don’t tremble. Stand up. Don’t tremble. Stand up.’ Ever since he landed in this world as a student, he believed there was a reason for it. A role, a purpose specifically carved out for him. Now it was clear. Only now did it become evident. ‘I protect.’ He didn't need to say who. To bring joy to those who made him smile, to ensure their lives overflowed with happiness—that was his task. With one final thud, Rohan struck his head against the ground. “Rohan, fulfill your role.” Recall Omega's arrogance displayed in Abyss City. Analyze his sadistic tendencies, his deviation leading him to subjugating others. Ensure no one gets abducted while Juyeon makes her way here. Strategize ways to buy time calmly. “…” In silence, Rohan lifted his head. Forcing his stiff neck upwards, he locked eyes with the towering Omega. The blood flowing down his forehead tainted Rohan’s vision with a red hue. Blurred sight was a blessing now—there was nothing here he could dodge even if he saw it. With a swift motion, Rohan scraped the ground, grabbing the fallen sword between his fingers. His palm entwined with grit and dirt. As he slowly rose, he assumed his stance as if it were any other day. “Do whatever the hell you want, you bastard." For once, Rohan's words emerged as coarse, colorful expletives.