The World After the Bad Ending - Chapter 211

The Kingdom of Panish, Aquiline Academy, second year.

There was a student named Audray Orlan.

He was a fairly outstanding student, a promising figure who would become the next Baron Orlan, having already made a name for himself in martial arts.

A boy with the ambition to one day achieve great feats and bring the Orlan barony to the world’s attention.

And so, the boy willingly obeyed his father’s order to pursue Prince Maron.

Prince Maron was an utterly incompetent king, unfit for any practical use.

The aristocratic faction wished to depose him and establish a new monarchy.

Even if Prince Maron were to become king, only a handful of nobles behind him would benefit.

The nobles excluded from that circle could never tolerate such a reality.

Capturing Prince Maron would mean victory for the aristocratic faction.

Moreover, the one who captured Prince Maron would be recorded as a hero in Panish’s history.

Audray wanted to become that hero at all costs.

And so, with grand dreams of willingly becoming a hero, he entered the Demon Palace.

And it did not take long for those dreams to shatter.

Just… what in the world is that thing?

Audray stood dumbfounded, staring at the scene unfolding before him.

Only two figures stood in the way of their pursuit of Prince Maron.

One was a blond delinquent.

The other was a man whose appearance was so striking it could make one gasp.

His looks were so intense that even the female students who had come with them hesitated.

But an enemy was an enemy.

The Panish students, eager to kill him and become heroes first, charged forward.

And in an instant, they were all slaughtered by the man’s hands.

Truly, in just an instant.

The students, blinded by their heroism, belatedly realized how close death had been.

As the students hesitated, unfamiliar figures began to move this time.

At first, seeing them hold their own, their fighting spirit surged again—but then, a bolt of lightning struck from the sky, and the situation changed.

Another assassin was sent flying into the air, reduced to pulp.

Amid the assassins, a single beast rampaged like a madman.

He crushed, electrocuted, and shattered every assassin he could get his hands on.

The assassins dared not oppose him.

A lone wolf among a pack of rabbits.

The rabbits’ weapons couldn’t even leave a scratch on the wolf’s body.

An overwhelming biological disparity.

An insurmountable gap was palpable from him.

And so, they had no choice but to retreat.

Just what in the world is that thing?

The assassins were all being slaughtered.

Among them, surprisingly, there were even aura users—some who managed to wound him.

But that only seemed to provoke his wrath further, as the aura users were torn apart even more brutally.

The children could only watch, not daring to move a muscle.

In fact, anyone who could still move after witnessing that scene would be a marvel.

A massacre.

That was a one-sided massacre.

A predator devouring its prey.

All the prey could do was pray that the predator’s next fangs wouldn’t be aimed at them.

Thud!

Finally, the predator had hunted down all the prey.

Before him stood the predator’s comrade, stabbed multiple times by the assassins’ daggers.

He was barely clinging to life, gasping for breath.

He had held his own, but facing multiple professional assassins alone was too much.

The electricity coursing through the predator’s body began to fade.

Yet, the fighting spirit in his eyes only burned more fiercely.

“A-ah, I—I don’t know, I don’t know anymore!”

One student, meeting his gaze, panicked and began to flee.

Soon, the others followed.

Terrified of becoming the predator’s next target, they all started running.

But no one dared to mock those fleeing children.

The overwhelming difference in power he had just displayed—

No one among them could stand against such might.

If anything, they were grateful to the first child who ran.

Because now, the others knew they wouldn’t be judged for fleeing too.

All the students began to scatter.

None of them, having lost their will to fight, had the courage to face the predator.

As the students fled, the predator let out a long exhale.

Then, without a word, he hoisted his comrade onto his back, carved a hole through the ice wall, and left.

In the space left behind by the predator, the remaining students could only stare blankly at the scene.

Breathing is hard.

The aftermath of using Heavenly Dragon’s Awakening took a greater toll on my body than I’d expected.

‘I was in worse shape than I thought.’

As expected, fighting nonstop after the Apostle’s leap was too much.

Originally, I planned to hold out on the first floor until all the Panish kids retreated.

But I couldn’t maintain the threat any longer and had to retreat to the second floor.

‘No one’s following.’

I’d instilled enough fear.

No one, no matter how fearless, would dare to chase me now.

“Card, you bastard. If you said you’d be fine, you should’ve stayed fine.”

I let out a breath, scolding Card, who was slumped on my back.

During the fierce battle when I activated Heavenly Dragon’s Awakening—

Card clung to me desperately, blocking the aura users from reaching me.

Without his help, I would’ve had several more wounds.

But because of that, Card’s body was left in tatters.

His legs trembled.

I frowned at the faint trickle of blood seeping from his side.

A last-ditch strike from an assassin wielding aura—

A madman who swung his sword to the very end, even as his life slipped away.

And his sword wasn’t ordinary.

Had he borrowed it from some emerging mystic faction? It was imbued with mysticism.

A blade that could cut through anything.

Combined with aura, it even managed to slice into my body, despite Heavenly Dragon’s Awakening.

If I hadn’t noticed in time, my organs would’ve been torn apart.

Even without letting my guard down for a second, the desperate struggle of an opponent fighting for their life was fierce.

Moreover, perhaps because of the mysticism’s intrusion, my Steel Body didn’t feel whole.

It was like my white blood cells were feverishly fighting off an invading virus.

Mystic energies clash when incompatible.

Steel Body and a blade that cuts everything were polar opposites.

‘Did they bring it specifically for me?’

By now, it’s well-known that the Hanon I’ve been impersonating possesses Steel Body.

So bringing that sword was no coincidence.

The unrelenting blood loss left my mind hazy.

Who’d have thought I’d feel physically exhausted?

Looks like I’ll need to train more with Aisha when we get back.

‘At this point, I don’t think I need to worry about being followed.’

I set Card down.

He was barely breathing.

The fact that he couldn’t even respond meant he was on the verge of losing consciousness.

First, I pulled on the bracelet Siron had given me.

A healing energy seeped from it, sealing my wounds and stopping the bleeding.

Looking at the bracelet reminded me of Siron.

By now, she must’ve escaped safely.

I need to get back and see that foolish face of hers.

Rummaging through my pockets, I found shattered potion bottles.

No surprise, given how violently I’d moved while using Heavenly Dragon’s Awakening.

The assassins hadn’t backed down either, fighting tooth and nail against me.

In the chaos, the potions breaking was inevitable.

These are useless now.

I hurriedly checked Card’s pockets and, thankfully, found some powdered medicine.

He must’ve prepared for injuries.

I recognized the type of powder.

“This is going to hurt like hell.”

But its efficacy was undeniable.

I poured the powder into Card’s mouth.

Then, I froze the surrounding air’s moisture and melted it with Emberflame to give him water.

The remaining powder I sprinkled over his worst wounds.

His face twisted more than when he’d been injured, but there was no other way.

I swallowed some of the leftover powder too.

And I understood why he’d made that face.

My body felt better.

But it also burned all over.

The clash of mystic energies wasn’t over yet.

The bracelet and healing medicine couldn’t resolve the mystic interference.

Not good.

At the very least, I had to hold out until I rejoined the kids.

“No time to rest. Let’s go.”

I gathered Card and started walking again.

Passing the second floor, I reached the third.

From here, the Demon Palace’s scale expanded significantly.

Because of that, I had to walk for a long time with Card in my arms.

Occasionally, demonic beasts appeared.

But most took one look at me and fled in fear.

Seems the remnants of the Ancient Dragon within me were baring their fangs.

Not because the master was in danger—

Just that, sensing my weakness, they were eyeing me as prey.

From now on, the Ancient Dragon’s remnants would influence me even more.

“Fine, keep growling until we leave the Demon Palace.”

No choice for now.

Maybe from walking nonstop—

My condition had worsened.

The fever showed no signs of breaking.

I thought I’d grown accustomed to heat thanks to Emberflame, but this was different.

Card still showed no signs of waking.

His injuries were mostly healed, but his mind needed time to recover.

I filled my stomach with jerky and water, then carried Card and walked on.

Finally, the fourth floor.

No sign of the kids who’d gone ahead.

Meaning they must’ve reached Jerion Academy safely.

A weight lifted off my shoulders.

Walking was getting harder.

Pushing through instead of resting might’ve backfired.

Falling asleep in the Demon Palace without a watch was the most dangerous thing.

So I absolutely couldn’t sleep now.

Card probably knew that too, which was why he’d stayed with me.

Though he likely didn’t expect to lose consciousness.

Still, the fifth floor wasn’t far.

From there, it was just ascending.

If needed, there was even a secret passage.

Using that, we could make it to the surface.

Thud—

Assuming no Apostles appeared.

“……Damn it.”

They say bad luck follows you to the end.

I bit my lip, staring at the Apostle before me.

Apostles were creatures that typically descended deeper underground.

But occasionally, like on the eighth floor, some stayed behind by choice.

Such beings were usually classified as Named Apostles—designated as high-risk.

And now, one such Named Apostle stood before me.

A creature with a single massive eye on its head.

Arms longer than its legs and a hunched back.

Its purple-glowing skin was unnerving.

The Apostle clicked its jaw beneath its eye, emitting a grotesque sound.

Like it was excited to devour weakened prey.

I tossed Card aside.

He’d mostly recovered—he wouldn’t die.

My Steel Body wasn’t at its best.

The Ancient Dragon’s remnants were also eyeing me hungrily.

All I had left was Emberflame.

I quietly condensed the flames within my body.

One strike.

I had to end this in one strike.

A silent standoff began between the Named Apostle and me.

And finally, the Named Apostle moved first.

It charged at me.

Pounding the ground, it swung its elongated arm.

Long reach.

But I’d faced worse.

With minimal movement, I slipped inside its guard.

Its arm barely grazed over my head.

I summoned Emberflame to my hand, aiming to pierce its vitals—

When I realized where its hand was headed.

The claws extending from its fingertips were flying toward Card.

This cunning bastard.

It wasn’t aiming for me—it was targeting Card from the start.

The moment I saw this, my hand twisted mid-motion, piercing the Apostle’s arm instead.

Crunch!

The Named Apostle screamed, its jaw gaping.

Its long arm was severed clean off.

The Emberflame on my hand began to fade.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled the flames back and steadied my breath.

“You’re facing an enemy—don’t get distracted.”

The Emberflame I’d condensed to finish it was wasted.

I wasn’t sure I could gather it again.

But I kept my hand steady, feigning composure.

I couldn’t afford to show weakness.

Whether the Apostle knew or not didn’t matter.

One thing was certain—losing an arm wouldn’t make it abandon its prey.

Here it comes.

The moment I predicted its move, the Apostle surged toward me.

It knew I was weakened.

It intended to kill me as quickly as possible.

My Emberflame-wreathed hand moved.

Just as I extended my arm to counter—

Twist—

My leg gave out, and I lurched forward.

Clearly, the result of overexertion.

Worst-case scenario.

I forced strength into my limbs to steady myself, but the opening was already there.

And the Apostle’s hand shot toward it.

I’ll be pierced.

But even so, I’ll take its head with me.

Grit!

I thrust my hand toward the Apostle.

If I’m pierced this time, will I make it back alive?

No way to know, but there was no other choice.

The Apostle’s claws and my hand crossed paths.

The moment we aimed to end each other—

Crunch!

The Apostle’s claws shattered into pieces.

Amid the broken shards, someone’s silver hair fluttered as well.

My eyes widened as I realized who it was.

“Nikita.”

The moment I spoke her name, her sword cleaved through the Apostle’s head, shattering it.

Then, with a kick, she sent its body flying effortlessly.

A display of the former third-year martial arts top student’s prowess.

Nikita turned her face toward me.

Without hesitation, she rushed forward and pulled me into an embrace.

“Instructor, I came to welcome you.”

Her warm voice tickled my ear.

I don’t know how she got here.

But one thing’s certain—her embrace was so warm that my eyes closed on their own.