[You have encountered the Humanity Traitor Oga. Achievent unlocked.]
[Achievent reward: 40P acquired.]
It’s been a while.
It had been a long ti since Rohan had earned an achievent just by encountering soone.
When he had faced the protagonist, the reward was 50P.
While the rewards weren’t strictly determined based on strength alone, Oga had only managed to reach a draw after being fully prepared to counter the protagonist. So, 40P seed like a reasonable amount.
And yet, for so reason, the title given was Humanity Traitor.
Not just for Oga—this title also appeared when encountering Hex.
Even Rohan didn’t know why it was Humanity Traitor instead of Reverse Praise Society.
It was one of those mysteries where the community could only speculate.
Because Abyss City had never reached a point in the story where this achievent’s aning was fully revealed.
"Ha."
Now wasn’t the ti to be thinking about such things.
Because death—one that wouldn’t even allow him to struggle—was right in front of Rohan’s eyes.
"This is bullshit."
Rohan was sure of it. This was an unreasonably excessive stroke of misfortune.
In this vast, uninhabited island, why did it have to be here that Oga appeared? What were the actual odds of running into an enemy like this in such a manner?
"An Academy cadet? Hah-hah-hah! You’ve co to the right place."
Oga erged from the worm, exuding an overwhelming pressure.
Even though it wasn’t a directed attack, the sheer weight of his presence nearly made Rohan drop his sword.
‘So that’s how he invaded…’
Completely different from the protagonist.
There was no attempt to conceal his presence—just an openly savage, blood-soaked aura.
A creature reeking of pure, jet-black malice.
If souls had color, his would undoubtedly be as black as coal.
‘Calm down.’
The only thread of hope Rohan had was the promise Oga had made with Hex.
"That one will be pleased. Shall I send him a little sample?"
—Kuweeeeh!
The worm opened its massive maw, directly facing Rohan.
As if it had been carrying Oga inside and was now preparing to swallow Rohan whole.
‘Just as expected.’
It was trying to capture an Academy cadet.
Which ant there really was an agreent between Hex and Oga.
The realization created a small opening in his suffocating tension.
Rohan clung to that feeling of relief, exhaled, and lowered his stance.
‘I won’t die. I won’t die. I won’t die. I won’t die. If I just stall for ti, I’ll survive sohow.’
A madman who takes pleasure in killing wouldn’t kill him.
That was enough.
His mind settled, and his breathing steadied.
"Huuuh!"
Oga, seeing Rohan actually preparing to fight, twisted his grotesque, burn-scarred face into a grin.
"You’ve got guts. Go on then, entertain ."
—Krrrk! Kiiiiiik!!!
The worm pressed its massive body against the ground and spread its monstrous jaws wide, ready to swallow Rohan.
Rohan’s eyes sharpened as he tightened his grip on his sword.
‘Will my sword even penetrate?’
This worm was different in both color and size from the ones in the textbooks.
Most likely, it was a monster modified by Hex’s genetic tampering.
‘Scorching Blade.’
Rohan’s sword turned red with searing heat.
As he prepared to unleash Fla Judgnt Sword, embers began escaping from his body.
"Fire?"
The mont flickers of fla leaked from Rohan, Oga’s face twisted in displeasure.
As expected—he still hadn’t completely overco the terror of that day when his entire body was burned alive.
If he wanted to get over this deeply ingrained trauma, he’d have to defeat the protagonist who had inflicted it on him.
And once again, he was forced to acknowledge that fact.
"Damn heat makes reconsider."
—Krrrk…
Clicking his tongue, Oga signaled the worm to stand down.
His excitent had been ruined.
Running into an opponent who wielded fire, of all things, right at the start?
It pissed him off.
The irritation made him want to break this kid’s spirit until he was groveling and begging for his life.
‘Might as well have so fun before the main event.’
As long as he sent a cadet with all limbs intact, he wouldn’t be violating his deal with Hex.
And within those boundaries, there were plenty of things he could do.
Kudududuk—!!!
From Oga’s back, thick, blue octopus tentacles burst forth.
His body had long since been modified into a fusion of different monsters.
The grotesque limbs writhed as they targeted Rohan.
"Hey, brat."
"…"
"Quiet one, huh? No sign of panic… Not even a single question."
Oga couldn’t shake the impression that this guy was odd.
To the point where he wanted to crack open his skull and peek inside.
"Fine. Let’s see how well you and your friends struggle."
The mont he heard friends, Rohan’s eyes widened.
Sensing faint presences closing in, he spun around and shouted:
"Don’t co!!! Turn back!!!"
Seeing Rohan’s blood vessels bulging as he yelled, Oga smirked.
"Now that is a reaction worth playing with."
Oga’s tentacles shot forward—
Straight into the brush where Rohan’s allies were hiding.
And to Rohan’s eyes, the movent was too fast to track.
"Kyaaaah!"
Corin was instantly snatched up by one of Oga’s octopus tentacles.
At the sa ti, a decision was made.
Noah and Ichinose burst out from the forest, and Rohan lunged at Oga.
Rohan’s twin thrusts, Ichinose’s quick-draw slash, Noah’s kick—
Oga took it all without moving an inch.
"The level of Academy cadets isn’t bad. You’re more useful than most soldiers."
Rohan’s sword, wrapped in Scorching Blade, struck straight for Oga’s throat—
But the blade didn’t pierce even a fingernail’s depth.
Ichinose’s sword, aid at the tentacle constricting Corin, t the sa result.
Noah’s kick landed squarely on Oga’s temple—
And yet, his head didn’t budge in the slightest.
A perfectly landed hit.
Zero damage.
A wall of imasurable height.
The overwhelming gap in strength was undeniable.
"Who is this guy?!"
"This is… dangerous."
Ichinose and Noah both leaped back, alard.
They had already grasped the severity of the situation—
And their expressions turned grim.
"..."
Rohan wasn’t pleased to see reinforcents had arrived.
Even if he told them to run, neither of them would abandon Corin.
And Oga? He would never just let them go.
‘This is bad. This is the worst.’
Normally, Oga would have needed to release his magic to provoke the protagonist into appearing.
But because they had run into him directly, that process was skipped.
If Oga was capturing cadets just for his own amusent, based on his agreent with Hex—
Then the protagonist would inevitably be slightly delayed in realizing what was happening.
Right now, the uninhabited island was complete chaos.
"Where’s all that spirit from earlier, little ones? Co at again."
"Agh…!"
The tentacle squeezing Corin tightened just slightly.
It had more than enough strength to crush her instantly, but Oga only used enough pressure to provoke them.
The corners of his lips curled upward.
"..."
All three of them silently shifted into position.
Oga, crossing his arms, studied the female cadets closely.
And at that mont—
He completely forgot his irritation with Rohan.
"Ahh, I see. So these are the key ingredients."
It was obvious at a glance.
Since he was making a big move anyway, might as well go all the way.
One was the daughter of Ichinose Jun, and the other carried the blood of the Great White Tiger Emperor.
The ones Hex had specifically ordered him to capture.
Kudududuk!
From Oga’s shoulder, a red snake slithered out and lifted its head.
The mont they realized he was about to do sothing, the three launched a combined attack.
─ KAAAAAAAH!!!
The snake’s head let out a vile shriek.
And the cadets were instantly struck with a fear status effect—
As if their hearts were being crushed.
An artificial terror forcibly invaded their minds.
Their very thoughts shriveled under the pressure, their brains trembling in horror.
"Ah… ahhh…"
Still restrained in the tentacle’s grasp, Corin began foaming at the mouth before passing out.
She trembled pitifully.
Ichinose and Noah’s bodies had gone completely numb. They couldn’t move.
It was inevitable that they’d collapse onto the ground.
It was only natural that their weapons slipped from their grasp.
"Urgh…!"
"Ngh…!"
Both Ichinose and Noah struggled against the overwhelming nausea.
The only praiseworthy thing?
They were still conscious.
Because they had spent so much ti in the presence of titanic powers, their minds were just barely holding on.
"Hahahaha!!!"
Oga burst into laughter as he looked at the two girls who hadn’t fainted.
Even with his power restrained, they had exceeded expectations.
Despite their youth, their bloodlines truly set them apart.
But more than anything—
There was one thing that defied all expectations.
Oga’s gaze turned toward the male cadet who wasn’t on Hex’s priority list.
‘A ntal defense skill?’
He wasn’t brimming with mana.
And yet—
He was the only one whose consciousness remained unshaken.
His body was frozen.
But his mind was completely intact.
‘Or… is his willpower simply strong enough to endure it?’
Either way, it piqued Oga’s interest.
Which was exactly what Rohan had been hoping for.
"Guh…!"
Now wasn’t the ti to stay down.
Rohan needed to shock his body back to function.
He spotted a solid rock on the ground.
BAM!
Rohan slamd his forehead into it.
To fight back against an overwhelming terror—
He needed to break his own mind.
"..."
Blood splattered in all directions.
Oga and the two cadets watched in stunned silence.
‘Lee Rohan. Get a grip. Have so goddamn pride.’
How many tis had he survived death in his past life?
And now, just because his opponent wasn’t outright trying to kill him, he was hesitating?
That was pathetic.
Unacceptable.
"Haa."
Blood dripped from his forehead.
The pain began reviving his body.
‘Good. I can move.’
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heartbeat pounded through his entire being.
‘Don’t tremble. Stand up. Don’t tremble. Stand up. Don’t tremble. Stand up.’
Ever since he had been forced into the role of a cadet—
One thought had always lingered in his mind.
There must be a reason why he was thrown into this world.
He must have a role to play.
And now—
Finally—
He was certain.
‘Protect them.’
There was no need to clarify who.
If they had made him smile, he would do the sa in return.
Because life should be spent laughing—
Not suffering.
One last ti—
BAM!
Rohan slamd his forehead into the ground.
‘Lee Rohan. Fulfill your role.’
If he rembered Oga’s arrogance from Abyss City—
Then he needed to analyze his sadism.
To understand his twisted need to dominate others.
No one gets kidnapped.
He had to stall for ti until the protagonist arrived.
He needed a plan—fast.
After a long silence—
Rohan lifted his head.
Forcing his stiff, trembling neck upward—
His eyes t Oga’s.
The blood dripping from his forehead dyed his vision red.
It was better that way.
There was nothing he could see and dodge anyway.
── Ssshhh!
Rohan’s fingers dug into the dirt, reaching for his fallen sword.
His palm closed around it—
Dirt and blood mixing together in his grip.
Slowly—
Rohan stood.
And took his usual stance.
"Do whatever the fuck you want, you bastard."
For once, Rohan let out a raw, unfiltered curse.
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