Chapter 606
"Please give me 10,000 monsters."
At Simon’s shocking declaration, the underground dungeon was thrown into chaos.
"What… what did he just say?"
"I must have misheard, right?"
The student lounge instantly became a cauldron of confusion.
Even his teammates waiting in the staging area gaped in shock.
Thud.
The leader of Groupv4 sank down against the wall with a hollow stare. Loraine was at a loss for words, and Eshu, scratching her head like a man who had lost his country, shouted:
"President, you insane bastard!"
Toto’s pupils trembled.
"H-he must have misspoken. There’s no way… it’s some kind of mistake…"
It was an absurd number.
The dungeon keeper asked again, and Simon, driving the nail in, declared proudly before all.
"I will challenge with 10,000."
Kgh.
Kahahahahahahaha!
While everyone was stunned, one of the elders watching from above burst into laughter.
"Yes! Yes! That’s what I expect from Keyzen’s Student Council President!"
"He’s lost his mind."
Another elder scowled from the opposite side.
"Ten thousand in fifteen minutes. Does he think the number 10,000 is a joke?"
Even the battle-hardened elders were split in opinion, while the students concluded Simon had finally gone mad and resigned himself to suicide.
Because that number could only mean that.
"I will prepare."
But the dungeon keeper silently went to do his duty.
—This is Aron.
At that moment, Aron’s voice came from the communication crystal.
—Can you prepare 10,000 monsters in the underground dungeon?
"…Well. If I scrape up everything from the floor and throw it in, somehow."
The dungeon keeper departed, while Simon closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
‘Focus.’
He had come this far thanks to many people’s help. Simon first recalled Grerion’s words.
—Your idea is undeniably radical. Then why isn’t your method radical?
—The answer is in your own head.
Those words had left a deep resonance in him.
Simon had then sought out Professor Lin and Rune, the twin instructors of Summon Funerology.
—The skull of an Ancient Undead?
Simon revealed to them Manus’ skull, sealed by Erzebet, once belonging to an Ancient Undead.
The twins set the skull on the desk and spun it around curiously.
—Fascinating! Though its Core and everything else is destroyed, the grudge must have been strong, residual thoughts still cling faintly to the edge of the skull.
—Drawing those remnants into a summoning circle and painstakingly restoring them over time gave birth to this.
—But this is not the ‘Manus’ you speak of, Simon.
—Nor can it be called a ‘fragment of Manus’, Simon.
Simon nodded.
—I know. I only want to control this corrupted fragment… even just for ten minutes.
—Then so be it!
—We’ll step in!
The two undead girls grabbed chalk and went to the blackboard.
—As Ancient Undead who have existed far longer.
—We shall teach this boy the method!
And so, with only the bare minimum of safeguards, Simon began his plan.
How to merge disparate undead heads and bodies into a Dullahan.
He obsessed over Rune of Linkage.
He obsessed over formulas.
But there was no need to obsess with overturning common sense.
Simon was not the first necromancer to create a dullahan.
‘Common sense is not something to overturn.’
He changed his mindset.
‘Common sense is to be transcended.’
Chaos.
He had drawn a Chaos Magic Circle on his side beforehand. This power would be the key to everything.
—Student Simon Follentia, please prepare.
At the announcement, Simon opened a subspace.
What emerged was the limp body of a Guardian Dullahan, collapsing like a broken puppet.
It couldn’t even stand properly. Students in the lounge watching the screen grimaced.
"What’s that? Looks unfinished."
"Was the 10,000 just reckless nonsense? A suicide bid?"
"…Pathetic. And that’s supposed to be the top student?"
Boos and scorn poured out.
Even his allies in Team 6 grew grim-faced. Still, Simon carried on.
‘Prepare.’
With his left hand he grasped the Chaos Magic Circle at his side; with his right he activated the operational circle that would animate the dullahan.
Crackle! Crackle!
Even that circle, forged of Chaos, glowed violet. Simon inscribed it onto the dullahan’s body.
‘Link.’
Not the Rune of Linkage. Instead, a Chaos-forged Rune of Transmission connected his magic circle to the dullahan’s.
This was only preparation. And then—
Vmmm!
Now the true test began. Simon took out Manus’ skull.
The sudden sight of a skeleton’s head sent the audience into murmurs as they rushed to the screen.
"A-a skeleton’s skull? On the dullahan’s body?"
"Has he lost it completely?"
Even the elders and dignitaries stiffened at this.
"Is he mocking Keyzen?!"
"Pathetic. He’d be better off conceding outright."
What Simon did next was simple.
He broke the seal on Manus’ skull and placed it atop the dullahan’s empty neck.
‘Here goes!’
Simon activated the summoning circle of Manus. Instantly, a glow of red light burst from the skull’s eye sockets.
‘Last time, I only saw Manus move by sheer luck.’
Manus naturally produced vast Darkness, trying to consume nearby undead into its body. Simon intended to exploit this trait.
Rumble!
Darkness poured from Manus’ skull, flooding into the dullahan’s body.
And within that body awaited a magic circle—made solely of Chaos, Holiness, and SM-1 blood.
On its own, it had no effect. But once it met Darkness—
Kwooooom!
Three forces mingled and transformed into Chaos.
A power only Simon could wield.
The black smoke streaming from the dullahan’s body shifted into violet. Now the whole frame moved by the power of Chaos.
For the dullahan’s Darkness Engine, Simon had used a piece from Erzebet’s acquisition in the Frigod District—the body of the ‘One-Eyed Gentleman’. Only that could endure Manus’ output.
"It’s time!"
Simon shouted.
"The trial will begin!"
—The trial will begin.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Every gate in the dungeon opened, and black shapes poured forth.
10,000 monsters.
The testing ground was swallowed in darkness in an instant.
"Gasp!"
"What the hell?!"
Students and observers recoiled from the screen, horrified. The dungeon became utterly black in moments.
Nothing could be seen. Nothing could be done. Students in the staging area groaned in despair.
"How the hell are you supposed to fight in there?"
"It’s over."
As ridicule, contempt, and despair filled the air—
From the darkness, like a candle in the dead of night—
Fwoosh!
A violet flame lit up the void.
Fwaaaaaaash!
As the world brightened, the spectators saw it.
From within the darkness emerged a dullahan, gripping a sword of burning Darkness.
"Let’s go, Manus."
Simon spoke with resolve.
The dullahan held a violet wick, wrapped in deep-blue flames.
<Simon’s Original – Chaos Dullahan>
Simon swept his arm in a line. The candle-like flame traced the motion.
Fwaaaaaaaaaash!
One slash.
The flame cut across the world, and monsters in contact disintegrated to ash.
[Remaining Monsters: 9,287 / 10,000]
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"
"W-what just happened?!"
The lounge and staging areas erupted in shock.
Simon placed his hand on the Chaos Circle.
‘Increase Chaos output!’
The amount of Chaos fueling the wick doubled.
‘Absorb mana!’
The dullahan’s Darkness Engine began devouring all mana in the chamber. The air itself seemed to warp around it.
Rooooar!
The violet wick grew, engulfed in even greater Darkness. The flaming sword now stretched from the center of the dungeon to its farthest wall.
‘Go.’
The Chaos Dullahan raised the sword reverently to its brow, then rotated its torso—candle-flame blade spinning in a full circle.
Fwaaaaash!
Darkness split apart, and monsters were incinerated.
[Remaining Monsters: 7,461 / 10,000]
"Uwoooooh!"
"In a single strike, thousands?!"
"That’s possible?!"
The Chaos Dullahan swept its blazing sword again and again, cleaving the world.
<Imperial Swordsmanship – Rain of Blossoms>
<Imperial Swordsmanship – Deep River>
<Imperial Swordsmanship – Dream Manifest>
<Imperial Swordsmanship – Majestic Might>
The dullahan danced with its sword, sweeping away the darkness.
"Holy shit!"
Clang!
In the administrator’s room, a Crow agent dropped his sword and ripped off his mask, eyes wide.
"How does a dullahan wield the lost swordsmanship of the Empire?!"
The flames drew arcs and lines, afterimages blooming in dozens of directions.
The sword burned white blanks into the black screen.
Though soon swallowed again, each pass of the flame restored more light.
Sheenk!
Manus mimed sheathing the sword. Then, turning, it unleashed a blazing iai-draw.
<Imperial Swordsmanship – World Reversal>
[Remaining Monsters: 5,115 / 10,000]
"Already half gone!"
"Five thousand! He killed five thousand monsters!"
The students watching were delirious.
‘…A wave-based technique.’
Hector, arms folded, bit his lip as he stared gravely.
The Chaos Dullahan’s candle-flame sword swung, discharging crackling currents that leapt from monster to monster, chaining through the horde, detonating them simultaneously.
‘So that was it. Once numbers exceed a thousand, they become meaningless.’
Sheer headcount wasn’t absolute strength. Headcount mattered only when space allowed tactical value.
In a single confined chamber, whether one thousand insects or a hundred million, a single bomb would wipe them out alike.
A technique that influenced the entire space.
The dullahan had it. And that’s why Simon chose ten thousand.
"Damn it!"
Thud!
Hector slammed the sofa armrest.
‘It was me who let the rules define my limits!’
Rumble!
The Chaos Dullahan barreled through the monsters toward the farthest end of the dungeon. Its sword swelled massively.
<Imperial Swordsmanship – Rising Heavens>
The blade of Chaos, Darkness, and flame swept the world. The screen blazed white.
[Remaining Monsters: 945 / 10,000]
[Remaining Time: 7 minutes]
At this point, no one could even exclaim.
Mouths simply hung open in dumbstruck awe.
"Simon!"
Then Loraine’s cry rang out. Everyone’s gaze, long fixed on the dullahan, belatedly turned to Simon.
"!?"
Simon was drenched in blood.
"Haaah! Haaah!"
No one could wield such power unscathed.
Blood streamed from his mouth and nose—backlash from Darkness, bleeding him dry.
‘The power is beyond expectation, but…!’
The risk was far greater than Simon had imagined.
His consciousness flickered. His heart throbbed, his organs twisted.
"It’s dangerous!"
"We must stop the trial immediately! The student could die!"
Medics rushed in with stretchers, but Simon slowly raised his palm to halt them.
"Student!"
"Simon Follentia."
Aron, having arrived at some point, was already at the front of the trial ground. He had spoken nothing more than his name, but his voice carried a heavy weight of concern.
"Let me… continue…!"
Suppressing the bubbling blood in his throat, Simon mimed thrusting his hands forward. The Chaos Dullahan mirrored his stance, swinging its blade against the charging monsters.
Shraaaaaak!
Lines carved the air, and monsters were cut into pieces, falling in heaps upon a floor already layered in ash.
"Why…?"
Eshu collapsed weakly, muttering with a hollow face.
"Why push yourself that far? It’s just a trial! Even cutting down 1,000—no, 800—would have been enough…!"
‘Simon…’
Loraine clenched her fists tight.
‘Simon doesn’t set limits.’
The trial was only a task, a means.
A trial could give motivation, but the one who defined the end was not the trial—it was oneself.
To surpass one’s limits meant waging war against the self.
That’s why, when others made Skeleton Mages, he made a Lich.
That’s why, when others cut forty monsters, he cut 10,000.
‘He’s looking higher.’
Serne Eindark, biting her fingertip on the lounge sofa, watched with shining eyes.
"Heh… finally showing presence among the sardines, are we?"
In the staging area, the lounge, and the observation hall.
Everyone held their breath, entranced.
"Ghhhk!"
Simon clenched his fists until his knuckles popped. His whole body creaked. Breath caught in his throat, his vision swam.
Fwoosh!
The flaming blade began to dim, reverting into an ordinary longsword.
Manus, who had been carving down monsters in high spirits, froze at once when its burning blade vanished, staring back at Simon behind the barrier.
Simon chuckled despite the accusatory look.
"Sorry. But I can still—"
He tightened his blood-soaked arm.
"Fight."
[… …]
Screeeeech!
Kiieeeeeh!
Monsters lunged at the stalled Manus. It readjusted its grip and slashed without even looking back.
An X-shaped arc split the air, dozens of monsters collapsing in pieces.
[Remaining Monsters: 445 / 10,000]
"Hang in there, Simon!!"
A cracking, off-pitch shout rang from the staging area. Simon snapped alert.
‘To… Toto?’
Toto was screaming with all his might, his embarrassment overcome.
"You can do it!!"
The rest of his teammates followed, raising their voices.
"You’re doing great! Keep it up!!"
"President!!"
Suddenly, a feverish cheer erupted.
Not only the staging area, but also the lounge.
"What are you doing! Don’t let that one escape!"
"On your left! Watch your right flank!"
"Keep going! Keep going!"
Faces pressed to the monitors, everyone was shouting, fully immersed.
Simon’s chest burned hot.
Rankings, placements, competition—all of it ceased to matter.
They only wanted to see this spectacle to the very end.
Bang!
Even the elders smashed their chair armrests and rose to their feet.
"My blood is boiling!"
"Hahahaha! I can’t sit still! If only I were ten years younger, I’d be in there with them!"
The Crows muttered.
"…Reminds me of my days at Keyzen."
"Please, senior, spare us the nonsense."
The professors as well.
"It’s thanks to my advice, Simon Follentia."
"No, it was my formulas he used!"
"No, mine!"
And then—
—One minute remaining.
Crash!
"You stupid bastard!!"
Hector, who had been pretending not to care, suddenly shoved aside his peers and stormed up to the screen.
"If you’re going to win, then win properly! Simon Follentia!!"
Shraaaaaaaak!
Manus’ blade split eight more monsters.
[Remaining Monsters: 8 / 10,000]
But now Manus’ strikes faltered. The Darkness Engine had stalled.
"Ghhh!"
Just sustaining the dullahan was tearing Simon’s body apart. Manus turned to look at him a second time.
"Keep… going…!"
Blood vessels burst in Simon’s eyes, crimson tears streaming down.
But he refused to stop.
Manus kicked one monster into pieces.
"Seven left!"
"Seven!"
The crowd shouted as one.
"On your flank, Simon!"
Simon’s gaze snapped. Manus’ too, slicing the monster rushing from the right.
"S-six leeeeeft!"
Toto’s voice cracked horribly as he screamed.
Thoom!
Manus lunged, cutting down two more. Now, only two remained—two escaping Zezelis.
The other two were ordinary orcs, but Chaos had driven them mad, sending them rampaging erratically.
Chaos could break an enemy’s reason, but here it backfired.
"Keep going!"
"Steady!"
"Thirty seconds!"
Though blood blinded his sight, it didn’t matter.
For now, he saw through Manus’ eyes.
‘The thoughts have completely linked! You’ve opened your heart, haven’t you?’
Simon swung with all his might, and Manus’ blade mirrored it.
[Remaining Monsters: 4 / 10,000]
"Fifteen seconds!"
Even Manus’ body now staggered, its movements heavy as waterlogged cloth. The Guardian Dullahan’s mighty frame still could not fully withstand Manus’ sword. Its limbs were shredded, twisted at unnatural angles, blackened through.
"Haaaap!"
Chak!
Simon and Manus poured out their last strength, decapitating one fleeing Zezeli.
"Two left!"
"Two monsters left!"
"Ten seconds!"
Simon bit his lip.
‘Damn it!’
The two Chaos-maddened orcs split apart, fleeing in different directions.
The entire crowd counted in unison.
"Nine!"
"Eight!"
Dash!
Better to move than hesitate.
Manus lunged at the right-hand orc, blade flashing.
Shwing!
But its foot slipped—only cutting the orc’s arm. The howling beast bolted.
"Six!"
"Five!"
Time stretched unbearably. His consciousness frayed, nearly snapping.
‘Focus!’
Even killing 9,999 would mean zero points. The rule demanded exactly ten thousand.
‘Focus!’
Simon gathered every shred of feeling into the tip of the blade, and cut again.
The orc’s head fell.
Now, only one remained.
"Four!"
"Three!"
Even as the head hit the floor, Simon turned. The last orc had run far ahead.
He pushed off, chasing, blade ready.
"Two!"
"One!"
The sword swung down—
‘Ah…!’
It missed.
The arc sliced empty air, his grip failing. The blade flew free.
Beeeep!
—Trial Over!
Simon staggered out of Manus’ mind, wiping blood from his eyes.
‘…!’
The final orc.
Manus’ skull was embedded in its neck.
‘No way!’
Manus had thrown its own head, seizing the orc’s throat in its jaws.
The orc collapsed, crushed by its teeth.
And in the space of 10,000 monsters, only the headless dullahan remained standing.
—Simon Follentia. Within the time limit, 10,000 of 10,000 monsters slain.
—Simon Follentia and Team 6 have earned 10,000 points!
Waaaaaaah!
Faces flushed with excitement and awe, the students roared and surged toward Simon.
A new legend had been written.
Thud—
Aron, closest to the scene, didn’t even realize his cigar had fallen.
Sweat dripped from his palms.
"…Lunatic."
Truly.
He had cut down ten thousand.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters