I Killed the Player of the Academy

༺ Valhalla (3)༻

Spears came piercing forth at the exact same time from all around.

No-one was able to withstand this formation – not even the descendants of the great titans.

‘He’s faster than before?’

The change happened in the blink of an eye.

The Valkyrie attacking from behind sensed the sudden burst of extraordinary aura from the enemy, but it was already too late to retreat.

Spinning Heaven—

A counter-attacking move after deliberately creating a gap in defense. The spear rotated ferociously with the snap of his wrists.

— Rotating Demon Spear

Even though he wasn’t even looking her way, the spear quickly rotated and parried her spear away.

‘Heavy!’

It was incomprehensible how a spear rotated towards the back without looking could be so heavy. Geiravor’s hands were numb from the pain and she had to stay behind for some time.

‘But this is not the end.’

He might have been able to parry Geiravor’s attack from behind, but the more menacing attack was the one from the front. There was no doubt that Geiromul’s spear would soon pierce through Korin.

Or so they thought.

“What…?”

Geiromul was by far the one most surprised by what happened. Her spear, that should have no doubt penetrated through his stomach, had been stopped in its track, refusing to move an inch.

‘With bare hands?’

Right before it could pierce through him, Korin had stopped the spear by holding onto the shaft with one hand.

After that stunning show of control, this time he displayed his unbelievable strength by pulling the Valkyrie towards him by the spear.

“Kuhak?!”

Once the Valkyrie was close enough, Korin smacked her stomach with his knee. Before he could follow through with a second attack, however, a different spear came stabbing towards his sides.

“Oopsies.”

He slithered his way out of the attack without any hesitation. It seemed that he had no plans of carrying out the second attack in the first place – it was a feint.

‘He’s skilled at reading the opponent’s attacks!’

‘How many battles did it take for him to reach that level?’

The Valkyries acknowledged his deft ability and joined hands once more. In response, he engraved the Rune of Kenaz onto the Silver Spear and changed it into a flaming spear.

Immediately after that he swung the spear at them, as flames roared at its enemies to heed his call.

Runes.

Unlike other spells that required incantations and equations, the letters themselves had power and were therefore much quicker to activate in comparison.

The only demerit was its lack of strength as single letters. As single letters, the runes were only as powerful as elementary grade spells, and even when written in a sentence were at the level of medium grade spells at best.

– Kwaaaa!

However, the flames spitting out of his spear towards its foes were definitely stronger than elementary grade spells. Due to the blessing he gained as a sub-player, [Rune Amplification], the amplified output of his runes were surprising even in the eyes of the Master of Runes.

[ ᛇ ] — Eihwaz

But that was all there was to it.

Olrun quickly wrote the Rune of Defense to stop the attack. Normally, Korin would come out on top in a battle of runes, but he was against a tough opponent.

“Your runes are sloppy compared to your spear. Your strokes and tails are crooked.”

Korin’s Rune of Flames, which were as powerful as medium grade spells, was easily blocked by the Rune of Defense.

This was the difference between a newbie and the master of runes. It was simply on a different level.

“Tried my best for 2 years though.”

There was a drastic difference in their mastery over runes, and only someone like his Master, Erin, would be able to contend against her purely with runes. Besides—

– Kagagak!

Six spears came stabbing forth at the same time once more. They asserted control over the area, blocked potential paths for retreat and left no rooms for counterattacks.

It was a perfect formation – it felt as if the six spears were being swung by the same person.

‘Still strong.’

Seven Sisters of Spear.

They were the vanguards of wars, and their strengths reached its full potential in group battles.

Valkyries were born to be fighters. They played a crucial part in the Norse Mythology’s history of war as they crushed and overcame countless battles.

Their formation was so perfect that it could hunt down titans.

——!!

………

……

…

The never-ending attacks of the Spear Sisters oppressed Korin without giving him the time to rest.

The longer the fight went the more wounds he sustained, but the Valkyries were the ones that were shocked instead.

“He blocked that one as well?”

“That was supposed to be impossible to dodge…”

– Kaduk! Karang!

The spears clashed against one another as they repeatedly advanced forth and retreated back.

This man… it was not that he was unbelievably strong or quick, but he was very experienced. He was proficient at finding the gap between formations and taking advantage of the occasional blink of an eye.

It was incredible to see there was a spearman of this level even apart from Tates Valtazar.

“That hurts…”

He charged forward whilst allowing a cut to his left shoulder, and attacked with Eight Trigrams: Three Heavenly Palms, at a speed even faster than a spear.

“Kuhuk…!”

He had no hesitation using his entire body as a weapon instead of simply relying on his spear. His attacks were fierce, and unhesitant even if he had to sustain an injury for it.

– Sasasat!

And simple cuts were regenerated in a matter of seconds.

‘He’s strong.’

‘Simple but strong, and he’s skilled with feints and tricks.’

‘We have to go all out to beat him.’

The sisters all reached the same conclusion. They stopped their attacks and stood still.

“We, the maidens of battle.”

“Have found the soul of a hero.”

“For the soul offering to the God King.”

“For Vanadis.”

“Let us manifest the authority of battles granted to our beings.”

The shield maidens slowly started to float in the sky as the barren lands of Valhalla turned brighter from the halo behind them.

It was a scene that any warrior of the north would watch on with tears, but it was nothing but troubling for Korin Lork.

“That again…?”

He knew what that skill was. It was the sure-kill attack of Valkyries that only a small number of players were able to bring out in the game.

This skill, which was manifested against the soul of a hero whom they acknowledged… was one that became stronger depending on the strength of the hero they wished to behead.

“You have to i-frame the attack in the game but…”

It was that skill which he couldn’t overcome in the last iteration. He would have been dead if not for the God of Magic being next to him back then.

He was much stronger than how he was in the last iteration, but that meant the power of that attack would also be doubled.

Korin wasn’t sure if he could survive that but…

“It’s not a question of can or can’t. I just have to do it.”

What else could it do apart from killing him? Right?

He quickly retreated to the back.

At a distance too far for spears to reach, Korin awoke the Aura Core of a great hero lying dormant near his heart.

—!!

““……””

The Valkyries felt a chill running down their spine.

It wasn’t because of the likes of fear – it was joy.

Despite facing such radiance,

Despite witnessing such power,

That man still hadn’t lost his will to fight.

How joyous was this to see?

How lovable was this man?

The Valkyries were ones who wandered across battles and loved warriors – shield maidens who beheaded the falling warriors to guide their souls to Valhalla.

Therefore, they couldn’t help but feel joy at the face of a mighty warrior lifting his weapon and betting his life on the line.

“Come…! Come, o great warrior!”

He lifted his spear. The Silver Spear gleaming under the radiant halo rotated rapidly as if threatening to slice apart the earth.

The halo of the Valkyries gathered to one single dot.

Soon the light came shining down from the sky towards the tip of the spear like divine solace and grace.

At the same time, the spear began to move.

This one strike was one that would decide their life and death with no rooms for retreat.

Before long, the rapidly descending pillar of light collided with the spear.

****

The sacred expedition was divided into two groups.

One of them was the 1st Legion led by Estelle, which departed from the Chapel of Zeon. After pretending to march north, they quickly turned heads towards Xeruem, cut down the traitors of humanity and completely took over the west.

The 2nd Legion was the main army departing from the capital.

This legion was led personally by a member of the royal family. It was the 2nd Princess of the kingdom, Miruam Elizabeth El Rath.

Leading an army of dozens of thousands as well as knights and mages, she marched towards the north. Their might was equal to that of 150,000 northerners.

After arriving with the powerful army, Miruam glanced across the border city and covered her nose.

“What an ungraceful smell. Sir Korin has made quite the daring move.”

She frowned at the sight of the barbarians filling the city. It was normal for the barbaric ways of the northerners to be unpleasant in the eyes of the noble princess.

However, she wasn’t foolish enough to show it.

“I am the 2nd Princess of the kingdom, Miruam Elizabeth El Rath. You’re one of the tribe leaders, is that right?”

“Kuhum… a princess of the south, huh.”

“We’ve heard many stories about the valiant warriors of the north. Do you have anything you need staying in the city?”

“We have more than enough. Korin Lork has provided for us with no shortage. We appreciate the support from the kingdom.”

She was very friendly to the northerners.

After all, there were 150,000 of them. It was frightening how they could have broken down the walls and infiltrated the kingdom.

Korin had easily become allies with what could have been a menacing enemy, which meant she had the duty to prolong this temporary alliance for as long as possible.

“So, you’re saying Sir Korin… has gone missing?”

After scanning through the border city, the princess joined the strategy meeting as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

It appeared that Hua Ran was kidnapped by a wolf, and he fell into the Valkyries’ traps when chasing after the wolf.

Apparently the place he fell into was a place called Valhalla, where the demigods of the north accumulated their army.

“How clumsy.”

Miruam clicked her tongue thinking about Korin who had all-too-easily fallen for their trap.

He was the type of person who didn’t think twice when it was about saving other people. Despite knowing how it could put himself in danger, he was always relentless and unhesitant.

Only a fool like him would stand before an army by himself.

“So, what’s the rescue plan?”

“We have located where the Valkyries are. They were gathered next to the Frost Giant,” said Josephine, who had returned after stealthily observing them with her dimensional spell.

Although the Frost Giant had discovered her in the process, she was somehow able to come back in one piece.

“There were only 12 valkyries there,” Josephine added.

Brunhild continued off.

“That means the rest should be inside the gate. Professor Josephine, can you tell me some of their traits?”

Hearing her explain the traits of the Valkyries standing next to the Frost Giant, Brunhild shared her analysis.

“Then… the one who opened the gates is probably Hlokk the Blacksmith, because she contains the most Einherjar after the final war.”

“That ‘gate’ thing – can you summon soldiers whenever you wish? How many do you have?”

“If we combine the Einherjar of all of us here, it would be slightly over 10,000.”

“It’s easy then. Professor Josephine can teleport all of you, and you guys can open the gates and attack at once. It should be easy to just pour in 10,000 soldiers.”

“…”

“…”

The Valkyries frowned after hearing Miruam’s suggestion. Some of them expressed their discontentment.

“They are the souls of warriors that we have guided since the beginning of time. Are you suggesting that we sacrifice them all for one person?”

This was the reason why some of the Valkyries had gone under Valtazar’s wings.

Most of the Einherjar fell in the glorious battles of the final war.

But what about the rest of them? Upon losing the King of Gods, they became corpses roaming around Valhalla.

The Valkyries had to stand there watching the souls of the warriors that they themselves guided to Valhalla rot into skeletons.

That was why some of the Valkyries sought for the honey wine and meat that could prolong their immortality, and the alternative they found was the new era that Tates Valtazar promised to open.

They had to protect the souls of their warriors.

Now that the gods had fallen with nothing worth protecting, the only value they found in their own existence was the prolonging of their warriors.

That was why they were obsessed with each of their ‘gates’.

“Puht…!”

And yet Miruam scoffed at them without mercy.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I just found it funny that you’re so obsessed with corpses.”

“…Are you mocking us?”

“No, but it does provide a stark contrast, because that man wouldn’t have hesitated in the slightest. He’s a fool who always puts his own life on the line to save other people after all.”

Miruam snickered while saying, ‘You’re not that much of a fool I guess.’

“You…”

Some of the Valkyries were infuriated but…

“We will help.”

“Brunhild?”

All of them were shocked by the words of their leader.

“When Sir Korin was taking in the free citizens, this is what he told me.”

[It’s best if there are as few casualties as possible. Human lives are the most expensive, after all.]

“Einherjar… are our glorious memories, but we cannot prioritize the dead over the living.”

Her decision was made not because Korin was the player. Neither was it because he was a hero or a brave and strong warrior.

“He is the hero who will save the world. If it’s to save him, I am sure the Einherjar will gladly burn their great souls.”

Korin Lork.

It was the accumulation of everything he had built up.

Miruam smiled after seeing that, thinking to herself how that man is the same wherever he is.

“However, we are against the Frost Giant. Next to him are also the revived titans and Valkyries. It’s hard for us to even buy time.”

“It can’t be helped.”

“Are there any other plans?”

“I’ll just have to risk my life too,” Miruam said with a self-deprecating smile.

Some of the girls who saw that heaved a sigh to themselves.

“We have another rival.”

****

In the main encampment, Frost Giant Utgard Loki was already anticipating the moves of the opponent.

As a primal existence who used to rule the world from before the gods existed in these lands, he was incredibly wise. Not even the God of Lightning and the God of Mischief were able to outsmart him, let alone the limited wisdom of humans.

[They’re coming. Be aware.]

His voice echoed across the world.

The resting Valkyries were dissatisfied by the fact they had to listen to their nemesis, they obediently raised their swords and spears.

The titans stopped throwing rocks at the walls and the Wolves of Apocalypse began to growl.

All of them were ready.

This was a moment of mythology in writing.

Although both parties were aware of the enemy’s moves, it was still inevitable that both had to put their lives on the line in this war.

—!!

That was when the sky began to crack open above them.

It was Josephine Clara’s Unique Spell, group teleportation. What fell first was an enormous rock.

The rock had a diameter of 500 meters, and was the biggest rock she had in possession.

<Skrymir>

The chest of an enormous giant appeared out of thin air and blocked the descending rock. The collision of two gigantic objects resulted in a deafening roar as the rock broke down into smaller debris.

From behind the falling debris came 20 Valkyries.

Brunhild led the shield maidens, the long-time nemesis of the titans.

“For glory!!”

Gates immediately started to open. Pouring down from 20 gates that appeared out of nowhere was the glorious legion.

Einherjar began to flood out from the gates.

“…To think the Einherjar have to face each other.”

“What a depressing sight.”

The Valkyries standing on the side opposite to Brunhild – the ones who agreed with Valtazar’s offer – unleashed their Einherjar to fight alongside the titans.

An army of over 10,000 was glaring at one another in the snowy barren mountain.

[Only so much left of Einherjar.]

Looking at the once-great warriors who fell from grace standing there like skeletons, the Frost Giant was reminded once more of their demise.

[Is this all there is to it? No, that cannot be it.]

As he thought, he started to sense something from the crack in the sky and turned towards it with a blank gaze.

It was a nostalgic feeling.

This aura reminded him of their nemesis – the enemies of a distant past who no longer existed in this world.

The glorious era which now only existed in his memories.

The so-called gods.

[Yes. This is what I was waiting for. Only those insolent fools would be able to stand off against this Utgard Loki.]

However, unlike what he expected.

– Hissssss…!

What fell from the crack was a snake.

A snake unfathomably enormous.

Serpent of Infinity, Jormungandr.

In the next instant, the serpent was biting into the Frost Giant’s neck.