I Became the Academy's Kibitz Villain-Chapter 407: Project Jeju (5)

The biggest reference for ability users manifesting their powers in reality had, objectively speaking, been Japanese animation.

‘Honestly, if people could copy One Piece, Naruto, or Bleach, they definitely would.’

Even if they couldn’t stretch their bodies like rubber, they’d at least want to strengthen their fingers and thrust like a gun.

Even if they couldn’t create multiple illusions of themselves, they’d love to electrify their hands and unleash a lightning strike.

Shrinking an absurdly large greatsword into a compact form is nice, but arranging countless swords made of mana and controlling them remotely, like a floating arsenal, would be the pinnacle of power.

However, due to the Great Cataclysm, this world was different from what I once knew.

There were many such references left in the restricted archives, but only a select few had access to them.

Thus, the materials provided to ability users for reference were those that had already been censored once before the Great Cataclysm—handpicked by the authorities as “suitable.”

A prime example was the sword now displayed before me, wielded by this young man—[Plum Blossom Swordsman] Jin Cheon-u.

“Behold, the sword of Mount Hua!”

He swung his sword as if tracing a predetermined path.

With each swing, vibrant hot pink plum blossoms, the same color as his hair, bloomed at the tip of his blade.

This was no illusion.

If I were to name this ability…

[As expected of Plum Blossom Swordsman. A wielder of a power that makes mana flowers bloom from his sword.]

“It’s not mana flowers—it’s sword energy!”

I tried to shake his mental state by attacking the name of his ability, but he was too committed to his concept to waver.

“Bloom, Sword Blossom!”

[This feels like activating a skill in an RPG game.]

“It’s not a skill! It’s a martial arts technique, you ignorant fool who knows nothing of wuxia!”

Plum Blossom Swordsman’s face turned as red as his hot pink hair as he continued swinging his sword at me.

I dodged backward, creating distance, but he kept closing in, trying to cut me down.

“You cannot escape from the Five Elements Plum Blossom Step!”

[Chinese ability users never follow international standards—that’s always a problem.]

I lightly swung my goblin bat, blocking the trajectory of his blade.

Clang—!

“Ugh!”

[Just because I use a sniper rifle doesn’t mean I forgot—I specialize in close combat.]

“You bastard!”

[And to finish my thought, follow international standards and speak English.]

Boom—!

Before he could react, I swung my leg and kicked him square in the waist.

Since I had infused it with a decent amount of mana, he was knocked sideways, widening the distance between us. I adjusted my stance and aimed my goblin bat at him.

[Or are you fully committing to the villain path? If you’re not going to stick to your country’s unique terminology, speak English for the global audience.]

This was Korea, but since I was a villain, I could push the use of English.

[By the way, do you even know what “maehwa” is in English?]

[The scientific name is…]

[No, just the English word.]

The scientific name sounds too pretentious.

[…Apricot?]

[Right. Then from now on, I should call you ‘Apricot Sword Man’ instead of Plum Blossom Swordsman.]

“Hmph…! Then are you ‘DoGGaeBi’ or something?”

[You just realized that now?]

“W-what…?”

Surprisingly, my villain name was officially registered in the International Hero Association using its Korean pronunciation.

[Someone at my level gets their name recognized worldwide as a proper noun. But you? Who even calls you Plum Blossom Swordsman? Just Chinese people? Chinese state media?]

“Ugh…!”

[Ever done an interview with foreign journalists? What do they call you? I bet they just say ‘Mister Jin.’]

“Goblin!! Stop running your mouth and fight me fair and square with your ability!”

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Eventually, Plum Blossom Swordsman snapped.

“If you are truly an ability user, face me using your own ability!”

I wanted to point out that I was already using wind manipulation, but that would make me look like a demon, so I held back.

I was generous like that.

[Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll entertain you. I’ll show you a special power suited to your theme.]

Thud!

I slammed my goblin bat into the ground.

As I channeled my mana, it spread outward in a perfect circle, creating a space centered around me.

A formation drawn by the goblin bat.

If I were to match his concept, I suppose this would be called a “formation technique.”

“Th-that is…!”

I gestured for him to come forward, taunting him, and Plum Blossom Swordsman immediately lunged at me with his blade.

“Single Stroke Plum Blossom Sword!!”

[Calling out move names while fighting is a trademark of ability users.]

It was a thrust, but the energy behind it was no joke.

More importantly, the mana flowers blooming from his sword carried an intense killing intent.

‘Each one of those is basically a blade.’

At its core, it’s just a storm of sword energy disguised as flowers.

Normally, pointing this out would mess with his head, but since I’ve already shaken him multiple times, his anger has turned into bloodlust.

Instead of talking, I respond with technique.

Bang!

“Ugh?!”

Dodging his sword, I simultaneously duck and slam my shoulder into him.

“Wh-what…! How is this even possible…?!”

Plum Blossom Swordsman recoiled in shock.

I hadn’t infused my strike with significant mana, nor had I swung my goblin bat with full force, yet his pupils trembled from the light impact.

“You… don’t tell me….”

[Sorry, but this counter move doesn’t really have a name.]

I steadied my stance once more.

[If I had to name it, I’d call it ‘Inner Peace.’]

“Inner… Peace…!”

Plum Blossom Swordsman’s eyes widened as if he had gained enlightenment.

“I see…! Emptying the mind to enter a true state of nothingness!”

He wasn’t supposed to understand that.

That was just his own way of interpreting ability usage—if this were programming, it’d be like calling it Mount Hua C Language.

And me? I used the Secret Society Code.

If I understood his approach, then all my future techniques might start resembling his.

Goblin’s Twenty-Four Stances.

Goblin Tempest Blade.

Goblin’s Footwork.

‘…Actually, that last one might be fine.’

“…That technique has a clear weakness. If I don’t step into your domain, I can attack from afar.”

[Still, he is S-class—he caught on quickly. But…]

I reached my hand forward once again.

[Are you afraid?]

“…If I just stand here after being provoked like this, I wouldn’t be a real man!”

Plum Blossom Swordsman gripped his sword again, his face now clear and determined.

“Here I come, Goblin! Entertain me even more!”

[……Tsk.]

I had misjudged this guy.

[So, you’re not after the Phoenix Feather, huh?]

“Heh… hehehe…”

[You’re just a battle maniac looking for a fight with an S-rank who’s involved with the Phoenix Feather, aren’t you?]

“You’re just realizing that now?!”

Plum Blossom Swordsman swung his sword at me once again.

“Behold the power of Thousand-Stream Plum Blossom Sword!”

A surge of flame-like mana burst from his sword.

The swirling energy wrapped around the blade, scattering like flower petals. Those petals then condensed into a fiery vortex, launching toward me.

[Intervening…]

[Unnecessary.]

Chaos spoke with concern, but I simply shifted a foot to the side.

[I already dodged it.]

“!!”

I read the incoming attack.

I traced the trajectory of the flying petals, the path of the sword tip.

Normally, this would be impossible. But within the domain created by my goblin bat’s ability, it was possible.

Cognitive acceleration.

Inside this slowed world, I moved my body bit by bit.

That “slow” sensation lasted several seconds for me.

For Plum Blossom Swordsman, however, it wasn’t even a full second.

[Too slow.]

Pa—ang!

I dodged his attack and, as he stumbled forward, delivered a firm backhanded strike to his back.

The attack was light—so much so that his mana shield didn’t even react.

But in terms of results? It was exactly like before.

“You—you dodged my Thousand-Stream Plum Blossom Sword?!”

I had avoided his attack with barely a sheet of paper’s gap.

And I had landed an attack on him, too.

Not that it did any damage.

[That’s twice you’ve died already.]

“Ugh…!”

Just being hit was enough to wound his pride.

[I gave you a chance, and yet you still failed to land a hit. I have no interest in playing around anymore. This is the end.]

“D-damn it…! I must break through your technique—”

Baaaaam!

As I retrieved my goblin bat, a massive concrete hammer came crashing down on Plum Blossom Swordsman’s back.

Thud.

He collapsed without even managing a scream.

[Martial arts roleplayers really act like they’re in some kind of wuxia novel… What a pain.]

Chaos, who had been holding the concrete pillar above him, simply tossed it onto Plum Blossom Swordsman’s back.

It had been a one-on-one fight.

But I was a villain—I had no intention of indulging his self-satisfaction.

[As expected of Chaos. You finished him off without me even needing to signal you.]

[Doesn’t matter who takes him down, as long as he’s neutralized. So, what was that technique? I haven’t seen it before.]

[You mean even Chaos’ eyes were deceived? Seems I am quite capable, after all.]

It wasn’t anything special.

[Even a trash ability can be useful if you refine it properly.]

This one…

[I took Duoexini’s technique, refined it, and made it my own.]

Time acceleration.