I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 15

EP.15 – Hidden Piece (5)

The ominous fists of Ghost Buddha, emitting a sinister energy, surged like meteors. Kang Seo-jun’s punch, extended in opposition, was pitiful and feeble in comparison.

It resembled a dump truck rushing with full acceleration and a dove soaring ahead. Seo Eun-ha, sensing that nothing would change, tightly closed her eyes.

However, Ghost Buddha’s fists were nullified before making contact with anything.

[Critical Hit! A lucky strike hits the enemy’s vital point!]

– Paaah! –

A deafening sound, as if the eardrums of both ears would be torn apart, shook the massive space.

“Ugh…!”

“Eoak…!”

“Kyak?!”

– Hoooong! –

Following closely, a strong wind swept through the entire area.

When Seo Eun-ha slowly opened her eyes,

“……!!”

Ghost Buddha’s arms and torso were torn apart as they were.

“What the…!?”

“Did, did he…!”

Even the bodyguards who had carefully witnessed the entire process from a distance were speechless at the unbelievable sight.

If Soft tofu were hit by a cannon ball, what would happen?

With Kang Seo-jun’s punch, Ghost Buddha exploded like fireworks.

“Wha, what just…!”

“Sinc, since when did he…!”

“A Epic-grade monster in one blow…!?”

It is common knowledge that it takes ten A-rank hunters to defeat a Epic grade boss monster. However, that man obliterated such monster in a single blow, even with his bare hands.

Not only that, but the technique that flashed between Seo Eun-ha and the monster was undoubtedly ‘Blink’. It was an extremely difficult technique that only geniuses among high-level wizards or light attribute holders could use.

Just what power, skill, and innate attributes…

Who on earth is that man…

A bodyguard muttered absentmindedly.

“Minimum S-rank… Perhaps even SS-rank or higher…!”

– Goooooong –

The monster writhing on the ground like a dying insect soon ceased its movement, turning gray as if its power had been depleted.

– Uwoong.

–

– Slither, slither.

–

Soon, from the ground where Ghost Buddha collapsed, a red light flickered, and dark red hands emerged, pulling Ghost Buddha underground.

Ghost Buddha sank slowly, as if sinking into a swamp. It was the hell wardens taking their prisoner back to hell.

Kang Seo-jun loosened his stiff neck while watching that scene.

“It’s over….”

[Quest ‘The Sealed Shrine of Ghost Buddha’ complete!]

[Quest success reward! Sense stats increased by +1!]

[The Constellations admire your performance.]

[The Constellations anticipate your growth.]

[Some Constellations applaud your heroic adventure.]

[Some Constellations applaud your just judgment.]

[The Constellation ‘Guardian with Scales’ sponsors you with +1 strength stat.]

[The Constellation ‘Tree Sheltering the Flame’ sponsors you with +1 agility stat.]

[The Constellation ‘Illuminating One’ sponsors you with dimensional currency.]

.

.

.

System messages rapidly appeared before his eyes.

Kang Seo-jun skimmed through the messages and let out a sigh of relief.

‘Falling during the start of Phase 2 turned out to be an advantage.’

In the ant hell pattern of Phase 2, Kang Seo-jun was swept into the abyss by a torrent of mud.

If his willpower were a bit lower, he might have given up everything when he fell into the abyss. However, the resilience of a transcendent willpower led him to find a solution forcibly.

The conclusion reached was the ‘Blink Scroll’. Quickly purchasing a one-time-use teleportation spell from the dimensional shop to escape the crisis. At the time of purchase, he thought, ‘I wouldn’t have needed to buy it if I hadn’t fallen!’ and felt the pain of the loss, but…

[Some Constellations nod in approval of your good judgement.]

[The Constellation ‘Wise Old Serpent’ sponsors you with +1 intelligence stat.]

[The Constellation ‘Sage of the Distant Summit’ sponsors you with dimensional currency.]

The support of the Constellations who admired Kang Seo-jun’s dramatic overcoming of the crisis turned his mistake into a gain.

‘Well, passing through the ant hell section of Phase 2 with these specs was unrealistic in the first place.’

In the world, not everything was achievable with just willpower and luck.

‘Surviving with this simple endurance will also reach its limit soon. Whether it’s health or mana, the basic foundation of the abilities needs to be developed as quickly as possible.’

While contemplating these thoughts, he heard a surprised sound from behind.

“Uh, huh…? Oh?”

Turning around, seo Eun-ha was staring at Kang Seo-jun with a completely vacant expression.

“..………Are you okay?”

Kang Seo-jun extended his hand towards Seo Eun-ha and spoke.

“Eh? Oh?”

However, seo Eun-ha, without even thinking about taking his hand, just repeated the surprised sound.

It seemed like it would take some time for her to regain her senses.

“Te-Team Leader!”

“Unnie!”

From a bit further away, the security team and Jin Se-rin rushed over.

Kang Seo-jun withdrew his hand and stepped back a few steps.

Jin Se-rin arrived first and examined Seo Eun-ha’s condition.

“Unnie! Are you okay?”

Seo Eun-ha, with a blank gaze, turned her head towards Jin Se-rin but groaned at the piercing pain in her throat.

“Ah, ow!”

At that sight, Jin Se-rin’s face turned pale.

“Ju-just lie down for now!”

Following, security personnel approached with herbs and potions.

Seo Eun-ha will be taken care of by the remaining members now.

Kang Seo-jun had to collect the rewards from the dungeon.

“Manager Go. Could you help for a moment?”

To gather the loot, he needed someone else’s hands.

“Yes? What do you need help with?”

Instead of answering, Kang Seo-jun gestured for him to follow and walked towards the abyss.

Manager Go handed the bandages he was holding to a nearby colleague and followed Kang Seo-jun.

“Uh, where are you going?”

“Now we need to collect the loot.”

The first thing to collect was the Hidden Peace to give to Jin Se-rin.

Kang Seo-jun walked towards the abyss, casting light below.

The depth of the floor was so great that the darkness remained unilluminated, much like when the night sky is covered with clouds.

Manager Go asked with a bewildered expression.

“So, do we have to go down below…?”

Kang Seo-jun shook his head.

“No. Just wait.”

– Sparkle! –

Soon, something sparkled within the abyss. The sparkling object was slowly rising from the deep depths of the abyss. It ascended gracefully and stopped around the eye level of Kang Seo-jun and Manager Go. As it approached, its form became clearer.

It was a crystal in the shape of a droplet. Kang Seo-jun looked at Manager Go and inquired.

“Can you pull that over?”

The crystal floated in the middle of the abyss. It was too far for Kang Seo-jun to reach.

“Oh. Yes, of course. Just a moment.”

Manager Go rolled his arms a few times and then reached towards the crystal. The crystal gradually approached Manager Go’s hand.

It was a technique utilizing mana to create a magnetic field. Moving objects freely with mana, similar to telekinesis, was a highly challenging skill. However, pulling an object infused with pure mana like this was not too difficult.

The crystal soon settled in Manager Go’s hand.

“But what is this?”

“This is an item that can enhance Jin Se-rin’s stats. It’s the goal of this raid.”

“This is it?”

Not an elixir, not a spell book, and lacking any distinct magical incantations, a mana lump that didn’t radiate any special magical aura. Manager Go was puzzled, having never heard of an artifact that boosted stats.

《Item》

▶ Fragment of Purified Soul

◆ Grade

[Rare]

◆ Description

Once wicked and tainted soul, now a thoroughly Purified. Loot obtained after subduing an evil spirit. If offered to a Constellation that values justice, it can raise favorability.

An item that can be sold in the dimensional shop.

It was a reward from the hidden dungeon. Calling it a ‘Hidden Piece’ was just a name, in reality, it was an item sold in the dimensional shop.

Kang Seo-jun received the Fragment of Purified Soul from Manager Go and returned to where the security team and Jin Se-rin were gathered. Jin Se-rin anxiously cradled Seo Eun-ha’s hand.

“Unnie… I’m sorry. I never thought it would get this bad… because of me.”

Seo Eun-ha, now with a much-recovered mental state, replied with a composed expression.

“No. I made more mistakes. And in the end, it turned out well…”

Security team members playfully teased Seo Eun-ha while tending to her injuries.

“Your joints and muscles are all twisted. It’ll take a few weeks to heal.”

“Oh. That means no training for Team Leader for a while.”

“Woohoo~”

“After you all recover, let’s meet.”

“Eek…!”

With the tension released, a light-hearted conversation flowed calmly. In the meantime, Kang Seo-jun unexpectedly handed the Fragment of Purified Soul to Jin Se-rin.

“Take it. This is the purpose of coming to this dungeon.”

“What? Oh! Yes.”

Jin Se-rin carefully released Seo Eun-ha’s hand and accepted the Fragment of Purified Soul.

“But what is this?”

“As you can see, it’s a crystal. Hold this crystal in your hand tonight while you sleep. Check your stats the next day, and there should be results.”

For someone with the characteristic ‘Chosen One’, the only way to increase stats without accepting the fate of a Constellation was to offer a tribute to their own Constellation. The Constellation chosen by Jin Se-rin emphasized expelling darkness, fittingly called ‘Illuminating One’. The best tribute for ‘Illuminating One’ would undoubtedly be loot obtained after subduing an evil spirit.

However, all of this was a story she couldn’t possibly fathom right now. Jin Se-rin made a perplexed expression.

“Just holding it in my hand while sleeping increases my stats…?”

“Yes. Just hold it comfortably as if you’re cradling it.”

“Hmm…”

Jin Se-rin examined the Fragment of Purified Soul with a complicated expression. At that moment, seo Eun-ha, while being attended to by the security personnel, pushed herself up, groaning.

“Ugh….”

Then, she exerted more strength and managed to stand up with visible effort. Seeing her struggle, it seemed that her injuries were quite severe.

“Te-Team Leader, what are you doing?”

“The herbs are pouring out!”

“Just a moment…”

Seo Eun-ha limped towards Kang Seo-jun and bowed, expressing gratitude.

“Thank you. I survived because of you.”

Kang Seo-jun casually extended his hand.

“No problem. Focus on your recovery. The conquest is over, so rest assured.”

Although Seo Eun-ha intended to say more, Kang Seo-jun moved away, as there were still tasks pending for him.

“Alright, then I’ll take care of some business.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Don’t go too far.”

Kang Seo-jun, with a tone implying he would be back soon, walked towards the location where the Ghost Buddha was.

Muttering.

As Kang Seo-jun distanced himself from the group, a low muttering sound emanated from behind.

“Team Leader, who is that person?”

“Miss mentioned he was an academy colleague…”

Eye of Providence displayed their conversation like chat logs.

It was a bit itchy in his ears, but Kang Seo-jun ignored it. The crucial thing for him now was the true purpose of coming to this dungeon.

“Can I… help you?”

However, Manager Go occasionally followed Kang Seo-jun with hesitant steps.

“I’m going to the bathroom.”

“… Ah!”

Manager Go laughed awkwardly and lingered a few steps behind.

Kang Seo-jun roughly guessed the reason he was lingering. When they briefly separated earlier, it caused chaos, so this time he wanted to ensure the team stayed close to Kang Seo-jun.

“Now, there are no more danger elements in the dungeon. You can rest assured and take a break.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

After reassuring them, Manager Go turned back towards the group.

Kang Seo-Jun waited until he was far enough away, then pulled out a pair of tongs and a glass bottle containing green liquid from his hand.

These were tools to collect the true rewards of this dungeon.

‘Hidden pieces that create an enormous growth synergy when obtained in the early stages. Just getting this can make you stronger with every breath. How lucky to obtain this so early.’

Now was the time to claim the true rewards of this dungeon.