100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 78 - Kill and Cut

Chapter 78: Chapter 78 - Kill and Cut

Vivian soared through the air.

Her wings glowed with radiant light as she launched a flurry of Light Needles toward Thornel’s group.

One after another, the glowing projectiles streaked down like falling stars.

But Thornel’s group moved swiftly, dodging each strike.

Coalheart stepped forward, raising a barrier of Dark Magic to shield their formation.

Light and Dark clashed midair, cancelling each other out with bursts of opposing energy.

It was a difficult battle.

Vivian was just at Level 23 and was clearly at a disadvantage. Thornel’s group had the edge in both strength and experience.

Still, she fought with sharp precision, forcing them to stay on the defensive.

Each time they retaliated, Vivian would twist through the air, weaving between their attacks with aerial grace.

The battle reached a deadlock.

Neither side gaining ground.

But Lucien who was watching from below, could feel it.

Vivian’s strength was waning.

Her flight was slower.

Her attacks less crisp.

The signs were subtle but clear to him.

She was running out of energy.

Despite her skill, Vivian didn’t yet have the power to sustain her spells for long.

Just then, Vivian turned midair and directed a glowing spell toward Lucien.

A surge of light enveloped him.

Lucien’s heart raced.

Adrenaline flooded his body as the magic coursed through his veins.

Every nerve fired awake.

Every sense sharpened to a razor’s edge.

Basic Light Magic Spell: Boost.

"Brother," Vivian called out, "I’m still too weak to control my skills fully... I need your help."

Lucien gave her a calm nod.

Thornel’s group, however, grew tense.

They sensed something changing.

Something dangerous.

Lucien condensed his Sovereign Aura, letting it pulse around him like a warning bell.

"Spread out!" Thornel commanded.

He wasn’t taking any chances.

Lucien simply smiled.

He wasn’t attacking... not yet.

He just wanted to rattle them and buy time for Vivian.

With a slight hand gesture, he motioned her to descend.

"Come down, sis. And close your eyes."

Vivian obeyed without question.

Lucien reached into his INVENTORY and flicked something toward Thornel’s group.

Clink!

A small device bounced once on the ground then...

BOOM!

A blinding flash erupted.

White light flooded the area with searing intensity.

"Ugh!"

"Gah!"

"What is this?!"

The group staggered, clutching their faces. The flash was too bright, searing into their eyes like lightning.

They were completely disoriented.

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

Thanks to the divine energy he channelled to his eyes, his vision remained clear even in the aftermath of the flashbang.

While Thornel’s group staggered blindly, Lucien moved.

’There’s no point in dragging this out.’

In a blink, he dashed forward.

One student...

CRACK!

...went flying from a solid kick to the ribs. Another barely raised his arms before Lucien spun and struck him across the face.

Bodies dropped like dominoes.

But then... movement.

Thornel and Coalheart had recovered faster than expected.

Thornel began channeling his mana, eyes still squinting through the afterglow. Coalheart roared, charging straight at Lucien with brute force.

Lucien smiled coldly.

"PROCRASTINATE."

Thornel’s body locked mid-cast.

Lucien then turned.

He jumped to catch Coalheart by the head.

He slammed him down with a resounding THUD.

Then... a swift roundhouse kick to Thornel’s temple sent him sprawling.

More students came rushing at him in desperation.

Lucien weaved between them, dodging with ease.

His movements were fluid, almost lazy.

One by one, he brought them down with precision.

A strike to the jaw.

A sweeping leg.

A well-placed heel.

Then he paused.

His gaze shifted toward the battlefield’s edge... toward the professors.

They were cutting through the Silvermine guards with sharp coordination, advancing quickly. Their eyes locked on Lucien.

’They’re skilled...’

Lucien acted fast.

He raised a hand and cast Basic Dark Magic: Sleep.

A wave of dark mist spread outward, curling around the groaning students on the ground.

Within seconds, their bodies slumped. Their eyes fluttered shut.

Peaceful silence fell... except for one.

Coalheart who was bearing the Dark Attribute, resisted the sleep spell. He groaned as he struggled to rise. He gritted his teeth in defiance.

Lucien sighed.

"No choice then."

With one hand, he grabbed Coalheart’s head...

BANG!

...and slammed it into the ground.

Again.

And again.

Until the resistance vanished and Coalheart lay still.

’Quite pitiful,’ Lucien thought.

Vivian watched with a look of awe and relief. Her golden wings shimmered softly as she took in the aftermath.

Her eyes sparkled.

’Brother is truly better than any man... Mother was right.’

But then, her gaze snapped toward a new threat.

"Brother! The professors are coming! Hurry!"

Lucien glanced her way.

"Stay where you are, sis. I have a plan."

From across the field, the professors advanced. They darted around the Silvermine guards with precise footwork and focused intent.

But Lucien didn’t panic.

He raised his hands slowly as if painting in the air.

Wisps of energy followed his fingers, spiraling together in graceful motion... until a Yin-Yang Pattern began to take shape before him.

Then another.

Two Yin-Yang Magic Circles hovered midair, pulsing with divine energy.

Lucien’s eyes glowed as he activated them.

From the seeds, opposing chains burst forth.

One white as moonlight, the other black as shadow.

Eclipse Chain.

With a sharp motion, Lucien pointed toward the charging professors.

The chains responded instantly, slicing through the air with deadly grace. They aimed straight for their targets.

The two professors skidded to a halt. Their eyes narrowed as they saw the unfamiliar magic circles hovering in the air.

They frowned.

"What kind of spell is this?"

"Some homemade trick?"

They scoffed. Arrogance bloomed on their faces.

An unknown, unverified spell? From a mere child?

They didn’t even consider it a threat.

"Boy, you clearly haven’t seen much of the world."

"You shouldn’t have come here. You’re out of your depth."

But then...

Something shifted.

The white chains moved first.

With frightening speed, they launched forward like guided spears.

Too fast.

The professors raised their hands, casually attempting to swat them away like flies.

But the moment contact was made, the chains coiled tightly around their bodies.

"What—!?"

Their limbs locked.

Their mana... gone.

They can’t even use skills!

A wave of panic rippled through both men as they realized their mana vessels were being forcefully suppressed.

Desperate, they roared and summoned their physical strength. Their muscles strained against the bindings.

The chains creaked. It budged slightly.

Their faces lit up.

"Heh. We broke—"

But they didn’t finish.

The black chains followed.

Slithering like serpents, they snapped into place around them.

And instantly, everything changed.

Their strength... vanished.

Their stamina, their mana, their very vitality began to drain.... siphoned away at a terrifying rate.

The professors gasped as their knees buckled.

Lucien stood across the battlefield.

Calm.

Composed.

Smiling.

Then Lucien noticed something and his smile deepened.

The energy and mana drained by the Eclipse Chains weren’t just vanishing...

They were being funneled back into the Yin-Yang Circles... and then into him.

Lucien could feel it.

Mana was useless to him but now... it bathed his body like warm light washing over cold stone.

Useless or not, the sensation was oddly soothing.

And more than that... pure energy crept into his being, empowering him in subtle waves.

The professors, however, were not enjoying the experience.

"What... What is this?!"

"These chains...!"

"Boy! Release us right now!"

"Do you even know who we are?! This won’t go unpunished!"

Their words trembled between fear and desperation.

At that moment, the Silvermine guards finally arrived.

Just in time to witness the scene.

They froze.

Lucien had told them to stall the professors... but the truth before their eyes was something else entirely.

They gulped in unison.

’He doesn’t need our protection at all...’

Lucien stepped forward.

His Sovereign Aura thickened, pressing down like a storm cloud ready to burst. Each step radiated deathly intent.

The professors’ eyes widened in horror.

They had mocked him just minutes ago.

Now?

Now he walked like an executioner.

Like Death itself.

"Wait, boy!" one of them shouted as his voice cracked. "Let’s talk about this—"

"There’s no gain in killing us! Think rationally—"

But Lucien simply smiled.

And that smile sent a chill through their very bones.

"You should’ve thought twice before crossing me," he said coldly. "Siding with the villains is the same as accepting your own death."

He paused then added.

"Stop talking and die with dignity."

Ironbite appeared in his hand with a soft shimmer of light.

Lucien raised the weapon, poised to strike.

But then...

Lucien felt it.

A familiar presence stirred at the edge of the battlefield.

Headmaster Ellen.

His gaze snapped toward the approaching shadow.

Lucien’s eyes turned sharp.

"Are you here to stop me?" he asked. His voice was low and steeled.

The silhouette stepped forward and the moment the two professors saw her clearly, their hope rekindled.

"Headmaster!" one of them cried. "Please help us. This boy attacked us without warning!"

"Yes! He’s dangerous! Detain him now before it’s too late! He’s a threat to the academy!"

Ellen stopped.

Her eyes drifted toward them.

The professors released a shaky breath. Their pale faces regained a hint of color.

But then... Ellen’s expression twisted.

Into utter disgust.

"Lucien," she said slowly, "I won’t stop you."

Their eyes widened.

"I’ve wanted to get rid of them for a long time," she added coldly. "But I never had the chance."

She glanced at the restrained professors, their faces now drained of all hope.

"Don’t worry about retaliation from their families. I’ll take care of that."

Silence followed.

Then...

Vivian approached.

Lucien stiffened slightly, lowering his blade just an inch.

He didn’t want her to see this. If there was one person in the world who could stop him... it was his sister.

But she didn’t flinch.

Instead, she met his gaze with unwavering resolve and gave a firm nod.

"I’m with you, brother."

Lucien paused.

’She’s not the fragile girl I thought she was.’

She had made up her mind.

And she was prepared to bear the weight with him.

Lucien’s grip on Ironbite tightened.

In the end, it was only him who thought Vivian was fragile.

Vivian had long accepted the brutal truth of this world.

She had made up her mind to protect Lucien no matter the cost.

And if that meant staining her hands with blood... then so be it.

Lucien gave her a final nod.

And without hesitation, he drove Ironbite into the two professors.

The light left their eyes.

Then slowly, Lucien turned...

His gaze locked onto Thornel’s group on the ground.

He stepped toward them.

"It’s your turn now... you bastards."

But just as he moved...

A hand grabbed his shoulder.

Lucien turned sharply.

Ellen.

She cleared her throat. "Ahem. I actually came to stop you... from killing those kids."

Lucien blinked, caught off guard.

Ellen leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"Not yet, at least. The Golddust family might retaliate... and it could ruin everything we’ve planned. The timing isn’t right. You’re too closely tied to Silvermine and they’ll use that to strike back. Please... just this once... hold back."

Lucien paused.

Hearing that from her... he understood.

Ellen was a Copperrock. Her clan was ruined by the Golddust.

Her hatred ran deeper than anyone but she chose restraint.

She was thinking not just of revenge... but of Silvermine’s future.

Lucien clenched his jaw.

This made him admire her.

"Alright, Aunt," he said. "I won’t kill them."

Ellen nodded.

"But," Lucien continued, "I never said I’d let them off easy."

Then he turned to Vivian.

"Sis. Cover your eyes."

Vivian tilted her head, confused.

"This part... might be a bit too graphic for you."

Everyone watched, wondering what Lucien planned to do.

As instructed, Vivian covered her eyes...

...but curiosity got the better of her and she peeked between her fingers.

The next moment made her instantly turn away... face red.

Ellen choked mid-cough.

The Silvermine guards collectively flinched. Their expressions paled as they instinctively clutched between their legs.

Because...

Lucien, calm and collected, walked up to one of the unconscious students...

Then without a hint of hesitation, he pulled off the boy’s shorts and underwear.

A silver glint flashed in the air.

The sound of flesh parting echoed faintly.

Ellen’s jaw dropped.

Vivian squealed behind her hands.

The guards collectively winced.

Lucien didn’t let the blood pool. He immediately splashed a health potion on the wound, sealing it neatly.

"You dare covet my sister?" he muttered coldly. "Then let this be your lesson."

He repeated the process, moving from one boy to the next. Each time...

Cold.

Precise.

Clinical.

Coalheart, who had regained consciousness partway through, screamed and tried to crawl away.

Lucien grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face into the ground.

"Don’t worry. I didn’t forget you."

Another silver flash.

Finally, Lucien stopped in front of Thornel who was barely conscious.

Lucien crouched beside him and gave a quiet, menacing smile.

"This is mercy."

And with that...

Another clean cut.

Another potion.

Once finished, Lucien gathered the severed appendages into a neat pile.

Then... with a flick of his hand, he conjured a low, controlled flame and incinerated them into ash.

"Perfectly cooked," he said dryly.

He dusted his hands and turned to admire his work.

"Phew. It ain’t much... but it’s honest work."

The guards couldn’t speak.

They just stared, still pale and trembling.

Vivian kept her face hidden behind her hands, ears red as tomatoes.

Ellen, after a long silence, finally sighed and shook her head.

"...You really are something else."

She stepped forward and began casting a spell on each boy.

One by one.

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Aunt? What are you doing?"

"What else?" she said flatly. "Reversing their memories. A little Time Magic. Do you really want them remembering this?"

Lucien chuckled, not at all ashamed.

"Thanks, Aunt. Really."

Ellen gave him a tired look.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side."