[{"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-52":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},1531659,1990,"Chapter 52 : The Uninvited Hero (4)","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-52",52,"\u003Cp>Chapter 52: The Uninvited Hero (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast that revealed itself before the two was one I was also quite familiar with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A B-rank beast — Delusio Corpse. Its size ranged from two to three meters, and its reddish-brown, hardened shell was tough enough that most blades couldn’t even scratch it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its actual threat level was closer to A-rank, but since it was rarely seen even in the Beast Habitat Zones, it was classified a rank lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Or so it’s said, but it’s a creature I’ve seen countless times as part of special events.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in the episodes related to Rubia, it appeared almost every round as a branching boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>MAGA battles were turn-based by nature, and aside from a few rare exceptions, most fights had stat-adjustments that ensured the player rarely lost even to powerful enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this wasn’t a turn-based world, and there were no stat adjustments here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could easily be done in the game might very well be impossible in this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that, if I gauged the two’s current abilities… their chances of victory weren’t very high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene Carter and Rubia Magnus — both were undeniably gifted, but not yet to the level where they could face a B-rank beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now then… let’s see how they overcome this predicament.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy spread his arms wide and sidestepped slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, in a whispering tone, he asked Rubia,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you run?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at her left leg, bruised and swollen blue, and forced a nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joint was so puffed up that it was obvious she had twisted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene seemed to realize this as well, shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No good. Even at full speed, it’d be close. In that state, it’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-then what should we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What else? We fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a dagger about twenty centimeters long from his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he showed his intent to fight, the beast clashed its pincers together with a screeching sound, stirring up a racket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To a beast, humans were both enemies and prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hostility and killing intent were its default state — though its approach varied depending on its opponent’s perceived level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When facing a foe it couldn’t easily defeat, it would use any means necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When facing prey it could easily tear apart, it would toy with them slowly — as though savoring the play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by its behavior, it was already confident of its victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the beast hesitate to attack right away, the boy gave a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There’s no opportunity better than carelessness.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While quickly scanning the terrain, Eugene asked again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“List your main spells. All of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I’m not really good at any of them….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-Barrier! Wood Needle! Frozen Spear! Paralyze Field! Mud Swarm! Ignite Field! And, um…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Eugene’s pressing tone, Rubia rattled off six types of magic in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. That’s plenty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy leaned close to her ear and whispered something lengthy, then smiled with fiery determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s add one more line to our legend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the visibly tense Rubia behind, Eugene strode forward with confident steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast flinched for a moment — as though surprised that the humans it expected to flee with their tails tucked were instead advancing to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused all my attention on every movement they made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a battle I absolutely could not afford to miss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that they had fully blossomed yet, but this was a rare chance to witness, with my own eyes, a fragment of their former glory that had only lingered faintly in my memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief silence passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the beast’s first offensive, the probing battle began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy met the excited swings of the pincers and tail with only the minimal necessary movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even one solid hit could tilt the fight fatally against them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Eugene chose a combat style focused on evasion — countering only when absolutely unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the difference in size was too great; he was gradually being pushed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, the Delusio Corpse’s fighting style was utterly straightforward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It attacked with its pincers and tail to create wounds, then injected venom through the openings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its chitinous exoskeleton was lined with tiny hooked spines — even a brush against bare skin could lead to serious injury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not only highly defensive but also possessed impressive regenerative abilities, barely flinching at most attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, the forest was its favored terrain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For these two, still unseasoned as they were, the odds of defeating it without injury were… at best, twenty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was my honest assessment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, there’s no way they can outlast a beast in a battle of endurance… so what’s your next move, boy?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it looked like a drawn-out standoff, in that short span of time, Eugene had already gathered a wealth of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without taking his eyes off the beast, he began his briefing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected, the pincers are the hardest, and the gap between the torso plates is the weakest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You mean, in terms of durability?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. I’ll keep creating openings, so try hitting it with your spear or needle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, got it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the briefing ended, blue mana began to surge from Eugene’s entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That ability is….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outpouring mana soon solidified into a tangible armor that wrapped around his torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana Armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ability that drew internal mana outward and manifested it as armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As with all techniques of that type, its mana consumption was dreadful, so unless one had both abundant mana and exceptional recovery, most people didn’t favor it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, even I didn’t possess the Mana Armor skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He must’ve absorbed it through Mana Devour once, then lost it due to the curse.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy dashed at the enemy with a speed incomparable to before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pushing off the surrounding trees, he leapt into the air, gripped his sword with both hands, and brought it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burst of smoke cleared in mere seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krrrk, krrrkkk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would’ve been nice if that single strike had finished it, but of course, the creature wasn’t that easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast caught the blade with its left pincer and tried to slice at Eugene’s flank with the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its tail, aimed at his heart, writhed as if it could pierce through him at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that very instant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the beast was about to shred the boy apart—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enduring tremendous pressure, Eugene gritted his teeth and shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spikes and spears erupted from the ground and the air alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kieeeek!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an improvised strategy, but its completion was remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With prey that had rushed in so recklessly, there was no reason for the beast not to go all out — naturally, it attacked at full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had kept both sides in mind and maintained its defense, there would have been no opening to exploit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a complacent beast was never that thorough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, their decisive blow struck true, landing precisely on the creature’s greatest weakness — the gap between its torso plates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to deliver a fatal wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear pierced through the thick chitin and caused some cracks — but that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In pain, Delusio Corpse flung Eugene aside and thrashed violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panting, Eugene motioned toward Rubia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa… quickly, finish it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the beast, sensing danger, reacted far faster than Rubia’s chant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It narrowly escaped the radius of the Paralyze Field and avoided the following rain of ice spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Eugene clicked his tongue, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana armor covering his upper body had already vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubia lowered her gaze, looking ashamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-sorry. If I’d just been a bit faster….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No, you did well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, staring at the beastly scorpion that now radiated open killing intent, he gave a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We should’ve finished it when it was off guard… this is troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sh-should we try to run away now? It’s wounded too, so maybe it won’t chase recklessly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy shook his head, echoing the thought in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A prey that hurts its predator and then runs? That’ll only make the bastard angrier. We need to end it here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that their biggest advantage — the beast’s carelessness — was now gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse yet, it had fully recognized Rubia’s threat level, making it much harder to recreate the previous situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing the fight half-heartedly would only lower their chances of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of raw combat ability, durability, stamina, terrain familiarity — in every category, the beast held overwhelming superiority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they failed to end it early, at least one sacrifice became inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…At this point, the only way is to burn it out with fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resolute, the boy began to walk slowly toward the enemy as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Paralyze Field, Mud Swarm, Ignite Field. Those three should do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps understanding his plan, Rubia silently nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And when you get the chance, make sure to kill it. Don’t worry about me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we don’t kill it this time, next time we both die. At least one of us has to live, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“B-but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s not like I plan on dying to some bug anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiiiek!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if unwilling to allow any more strategy talk, the beast lunged first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It charged straight at Rubia with ferocity, only to be flung back several meters by Eugene’s slash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t take your eyes off me when I’m in front of you, filthy insect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyaaaak!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The taunt worked — but the situation now was far worse than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana armor that had once covered his entire upper body now only shielded vital points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast’s fighting style had also shifted — instead of attacking solely with its pincers and tail, it began pressing forward bodily to overpower him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eugene used the surrounding terrain and occasionally relied on Rubia’s Barrier, but he couldn’t stop their formation from steadily collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite the worsening tide, his expression remained perfectly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…He’s planning something.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking closely, I realized that within about a hundred-meter radius of the battlefield, debris was gradually piling up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of it consisted of Rubia’s Wood Needles and fallen trees, but the closer to the center, the more traces of Mud Swarm there were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After around ten minutes of battle, the area within fifty meters was crawling with sticky mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From that point on, the boy deliberately kept the beast from straying beyond that zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even that had its limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a distance, Rubia shouted urgently,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-it’s ready now, Eugene! Hurry…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then do it now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixing his gaze coldly on the beast, he answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that split second, while their tense exchange continued—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kyaaaak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delusio Corpse’s sharp tail flew straight toward the boy’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>",1800,"2026-06-06T06:11:51.334Z",1,"novelbin.me","9e250493233faf4fb8408b7d2c722fda9fcbafeaf623351240e01fa55e33bbe9","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-53","i-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-chapter-51",163,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-became-the-academy-s-war-hero-cover.jpg"]