[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero":3,"chapter-i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-137":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Became the Academy’s War Hero",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1531794,1990,"Chapter 137 : Face of Calamity (1)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-137",137,"\u003Cp>Chapter 137: Face of Calamity (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kugugugug…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A sudden earthquake…?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the epicenter?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems to be near the trunk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tremors were followed by a deafening roar that mercilessly battered our ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kukwakwakwa-KWAAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing above the massive crater, I muttered briefly as I looked at the revealed enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is insane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even through the thick dust, its bloodthirsty red eyes gleamed vividly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the dust settled, its full form came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its humanoid body was entirely covered in pitch-black spikes, as if it wore a thick full-body armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, a dark blue-black aura clung heavily to its entire body, as though it had been coated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar sensation suddenly ran down my spine, sending chills through me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That same horrifying, wicked chill I had felt back in Elvrak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the aura of mana emitted by an SS-rank Beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seriously, isn’t this way too fast?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the original Eugene Carter, this had happened years ago—but for me, it had only been a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a bitter smile, I took my stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SS-rank Beast, Dabios of Slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True to its name, anything it brushed against would be torn apart instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether magic or physical attacks, it was nearly impossible to deal meaningful damage to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it must have dug an enormous tunnel underground on its way here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It probably just walked.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the result was a passageway for the Gate Beasts—strategically advantageous, no less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As proof, Beasts began pouring out of the hole it had created like cockroaches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sight, the soldiers instinctively flinched and stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I saw that, I swung my sword toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I deliberately missed—but it was enough to grab their attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You planning to run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-that’s….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you see? The Believers you were fighting just now—look at them. Even they’re holding their ground, so what are you soldiers hesitating for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An SS-rank Beast was essentially a calamity to humans. Ordinary civilians would go mad just from its lingering mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Special Task Force members, who had grown somewhat accustomed to Beasts through numerous battles, wouldn’t find it easy to suppress their fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was exactly why they had to overcome it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no future if we relied solely on heroes like me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We needed to build a system for all of humanity—not one that depended on a single hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This battle was the first test of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If this were a fight between humans, surrender might be an option. But those things are Beasts. We don’t have a choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was only one thing to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That we could win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can’t believe in yourself, believe in your comrades. Endure. Then I will definitely secure victory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dim eyes of the soldiers gradually began to burn with determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…They really are a handful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, motivating these guys was harder than killing Beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I grumbled inwardly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere around us had already turned far more solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though my words were directed at a few, they were enough to steady everyone’s resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly glanced at the allies beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had once been enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some would become enemies in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, in this moment, as I had said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had no choice but to trust each other and watch each other’s backs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was what Beasts were to humanity in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dabios, the enemy commander who had already revealed itself, silently observed us for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the peak of rising tension between both sides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stretched out both arms and spoke in a low, heavy voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Great One has willed it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A declaration of continuous battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your deaths have come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the horde of Beasts waiting at the outer wall and those pouring out from the crater and the front all charged at us at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAAAAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explosive clash drowned out everything—the sound of blades and claws colliding, the roars and dying screams of Beasts, the groans of the wounded, and the shouted commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the perfectly coordinated assault of the Beasts, the combatants had no choice but to stand back-to-back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them had already reached their limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fanatics of Dellowell, who still had relatively more stamina, were instead suffering from severe mental exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the Beasts intervened, this had been a war between humans—between citizens of the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The higher-ups might have seen things differently, but for those fighting on the frontlines, there had been no justification strong enough to demand further sacrifice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Frederick had said, if the two Executors had successfully persuaded them, the war would have ended quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it was being forcibly prolonged because of the Beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much they steeled themselves, their already exhausted bodies and minds wouldn’t suddenly recover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless they were restored to at least a functional combat state—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be no victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this battlefield, the only one capable of doing that alone—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was only one answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it meant cutting his already limited lifespan in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Aleph, who had activated his trump card barrier magic, barely remained standing while leaning on his staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark blood trickled down from his lips and dripped to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Not something an old body should be doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, there was no other choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once a decision was made, hesitation was nothing but a luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All one could do was carry out what they believed in and accept fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aleph clenched his teeth, struggling to maintain his fading consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memories from long ago flashed through his mind like a lantern parade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, he had pursued wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, he had pursued fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After realizing how meaningless those were, he tried to live as a seeker of truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some called him the Great Teacher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others called him the Empire’s only Grand Mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had gained many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them had not been satisfying, but he believed they still held meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed relentlessly, without even allowing him to indulge in sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone as old as him, new discoveries or grand achievements were no longer possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So despite still having the strength to try, he left the tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He abandoned duty and responsibility and faced the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first purposeless journey of his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wandered beyond the influence of Duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outside world was an even greater hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humans raised blades not only against Beasts—but against their own kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world they had to endure, the world they had to overcome—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was far too much for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of that journey, Aleph witnessed a single prophecy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A message about the future of humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no guarantee that prophecy would come true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if it did—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought it might be better that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was how disappointing and fragile humanity seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His journey ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to spend the rest of his life fulfilling his promise to Clina White.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was too old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even handle the power struggles within the Empire, let alone save humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no one suitable to entrust the prophecy to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having completely given up, Aleph returned to his hometown, abandoning both duty and purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was when he passed a corner of some village—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That he heard news of a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man named Eugene Carter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s path was nothing short of unprecedented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he openly humiliated the Orthodox Church and the Bernhardt Family at the summit, rejected the Centre Agreement, and responded to Dellowell’s declaration of war with a fight to the death—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Aleph decided to retract his stance just once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Believing that the world Eugene would show, and the world his companions would build—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would surely be different from the one he had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now then, don’t worry about this old life of mine—go on and spread your wings freely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WAAAAA— WAAAAA—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing that losing momentum meant defeat, the soldiers deliberately shouted louder to bolster their morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I cut down the Beasts rushing in from all directions with minimal movements, I kept my eyes fixed on the enemy commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of all things, my first real fight against an SS-rank Beast had to be Dabios. Just my luck.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were 21 types of SS-rank Beasts that appeared in MAGA.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Dabios had the most balanced offense and defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steel spikes protruding from its hardened hide were reinforced with mana, making them difficult to cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on top of that, it was wrapped in a dark blue-black aura specialized in defense and absorption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were all, it would still be manageable—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its absurd ability doubled the difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Active Skill: Slaughter Field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless blades of mana roamed the area in random directions, shredding everything they touched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the range could be controlled at will, since destroying the very ground it stood on would be inconvenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A toggleable sustained skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the opening we had to exploit lay within that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a passive ability that functioned regardless of its will, it would have been even harder to deal with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as a high-rank Beast that acted based on its own judgment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We could bait it as much as we wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then first….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved toward Betty Scarletwood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want to confirm its maximum firepower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After cleaving four Beasts rushing at her in a single strike, she fixed her gaze on Dabios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Let’s try it. I was curious myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Betty Scarletwood, Executor of Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The successor of the Earth Guardian Deity, Gemina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her offensive aptitude was lower compared to the Blood Guardian Deity, her understanding as a successor surpassed Karen’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, no one here had ever fought Dabios directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an opening engagement and reconnaissance battle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one more suitable than her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KUUUNG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Betty stomped the ground and charged forward, but the lesser Beasts blocked her path first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the mages behind fired Spears and Needles to push them aside, Karen, Frederick, and Dale took on the three A+ rank Beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their goal was clear: annihilate us and secure a firm foothold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Erosion Pillar was essential for that—a Demonic Tree they would prioritize protecting above all else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dabios, who had been watching us silently after giving orders, took a heavy step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Betty gripped her greatsword with both hands and swung with full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Slaughter Field activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm of blades deflected her strike instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfazed, she used the recoil to follow up with a second strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dabios responded immediately, extending its right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ting! Tiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blades couldn’t pierce Betty’s body, only releasing bursts of intense heat—but the real attack came next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment her second strike was blocked by its right arm, Betty shifted her grip to one hand and thrust her left hand forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Dabios’s left leg twisted forward in an unnatural motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as black spears began to manifest behind it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Betty slammed her right foot into the ground and shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earth Tremor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jjeeeeeeong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shockwave forced Dabios to retreat briefly behind the pillar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if such an impact meant nothing, Scatter’s barrier shimmered with its characteristic crimson glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After retreating several steps, she examined her body, which had entered the Slaughter Field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine cracks had appeared all over her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They soon disappeared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But both of us reached the same conclusion at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have to stop that skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That as long as Slaughter Field remained active—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be impossible to kill that monster.\u003C\u002Fp>",1945,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","39321acae9f23d99eb8cb0a12482504509b6ca118923ca7586ccd78eb82cb8d6","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-138","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-136",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]