The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

Drdrdrdrdrdr.

The sound of the propeller rumbled through Seoul, immersed in silence. It was a helicopter urgently dispatched by a television network.

The main television networks had their bases in Wonju, where the Joaquin Academy was located.

Therefore, they had no choice but to arrive late at the scene.

“…Wow.”

The cameraman, who was focusing on Seoul with his lens, let out an exclamation.

This was a true disaster. The level of destruction could rival any apocalyptic movie.

“Focus!”

“Ah, ah, sorry.”

At the reporter’s reprimand, the cameraman shook his head.

“No matter how surprised you are, you can’t act like this during a live broadcast!”

“Yes…”

The reporter’s attitude reflected professionalism. However, behind that façade, she was the most shaken when she saw the status window spread by Kali Yuga.

She only began to calm down when the status window, which had kept appearing before her retina, disappeared completely.

The network wanted to cover this unprecedented phenomenon directly from the scene.

That’s why they sent this reporter, who seemed to have recovered quickly, along with this cameraman, as special correspondents. They put them on a helicopter reserved for executives.

“Good afternoon. This is reporter Kim from CCB.”

The cameraman captured the reporter opening the broadcast, while he searched for another target with the lens.

His professional instinct told him that the one responsible for this disaster was still nearby.

“Huh?”

“For real! We’re live, for heaven’s—!”

“No, look! Look over there!”

The cameraman sharply turned the lens. Reporter Kim, visibly annoyed, reluctantly followed his gaze.

“Huh?”

An astonished exclamation.

A large bridge connected the north and south of the city, crossing the river. The cloud of dust covering the bridge dissipated, revealing a figure.

“Is that person…?”

The reporter shouted loudly toward the helicopter cabin:

“Please, get closer to Yanghwa Bridge!”

Drdrdrdr.

The helicopter obeyed and veered.

The angle of tilt was so sharp that the center of gravity was at risk, but no one cared.

When they approached Yanghwa Bridge, the reporter held her breath.

“Heavenly Sword.”

He was there.

The cameraman, as if rehearsed, aimed the lens directly at Kang Geom-Ma.

‘Huh?’

As he adjusted the optical zoom, he realized that, besides Geom-Ma, there was something else. It looked like a bluish piece of flesh completely turned to mush, unrecognizable.

The only thing deducible was that it had been a living creature until recently.

It was at that moment.

=No…=

A chilling sensation ran through the folds of the brain. Not only did the cameraman feel it.

Also the reporter, the helicopter pilot… And all the citizens of Seoul, at the same time, were enveloped in an ominous gloom.

The cameraman, with trembling hands, filmed Kang Geom-Ma and that thing.

Holding back his fear as much as possible.

=I, I… can’t go like this…=

That being lamented.

=Oh, Power of Suppression… Is this too part of your will? Did my moment of arrogance offend your will? Then… this is unfair! Why is that other, being also an apostle, left free? Why do you favor him and not me? Why don’t you give me even a little space…?=

“Enough.”

Kang Geom-Ma interrupted his monologue.

“All villains, when their time comes, can’t help but run their mouths.
Do they give classes on that with the Power of Suppression? Is there an academy for it? Is it affiliated with Joaquin Academy?”

=Ah, ah! Look at him! Every time he opens his mouth he spouts blasphemies! How can you allow that…?!=

Kali Yuga couldn’t finish his sentence. Because he was bombarded by Daiso sashimis.

The pilot instinctively tried to turn the helicopter, but the knives passed millimeters away, embedding themselves in the ground without touching the aircraft.

=¡Aaaaaaaghhh!=

“Shut up. Just get lost already.”

It was a horrible scene. But the reporting team in the helicopter felt a strange sense of relief.

It was liberating.

Kali Yuga had tried to dominate human minds through the Blessing of the Apocalypse M.

And the result was before their eyes. His plans were destroyed. He was being beaten down by Kang Geom-Ma.

Even the giant eye watching from the top of Seoul Tower blurred.

Unknowingly, the mental chains binding the citizens broke.

Maybe those who had awakened magic felt some regret. But most were civilians who had been dragged into the events.

They had finally been freed from an unprecedented confinement. They felt relieved.

And everyone knew perfectly who had returned that freedom to them—Kang Geom-Ma.

“Are you filming properly?”

“Of course!”

Everyone could see it. The audience of the live program was rising at a dizzying pace.

Moreover, this was South Korea, leader in digital culture. And the holder of Heavenly Sword, symbol of the “Do You Know Club” movement.

The citizens were determined to spread these images across the world.

Once again, the one who marked the end of a global disaster was none other than Kang Geom-Ma.

“Huff…”

The reporter removed the microphone pressing against her chest. The broadcast was already ruined. Let happen what may.

They would only ask her for a report. She already planned to protest with her superiors.

Anyway.

The reporter saw the sashimis bursting in front of Kang Geom-Ma. They were part of his distinctive technique, the fencing of the “Higher Self.”

She had suspected it, but now she confirmed it: without a doubt, it was Kang Geom-Ma.

=Oh, Power of Suppression! Have mercy on me!=

“The end of the world, huh…”

Wham wham!

=Please, save me!=

“How can someone be more pathetic than the corps commanders I defeated ten years ago?”

Wham wham!

=¡Aaaaaaaghhh!=

“I don’t even need to go that far back. Even Ragnarok imposed at least three times more than you.”

Kali Yuga tried to crawl away. Kang Geom-Ma snapped his fingers.

And what followed was worth beholding. As if time had stopped, thousands of sashimis hung suspended in the air.

And everything was captured clearly on camera.

Kang Geom-Ma unsheathed Murasame and his EX-rank sashimi. Then, the ability of the latter was activated.

[Initiating sword slot rotation]

[(Sword cut)(Emergency inspection cut)(Scheduled cut)(Extended cut)]
▲≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫

[(Urgent cut)(Scheduled cut)(Extended cut)]
▲≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫

[(Sword cut)(Scheduled cut)(Extended cut)(Emergency inspection cut)]
▲

[(Scheduled cut)(Extended cut)(Emergency inspection cut)]
▲

[The name of the sword to be used for 1 minute has been determined.]

Whoooom—

[An Extended Inspection will proceed.]

“Perfect.”

=Ah, ah…=

“Where is that insect that won’t stop buzzing?”

Kang Geom-Ma lunged immediately. The sword dance that followed couldn’t even be captured by the camera.

An astonishing sword technique combined with an apocalyptic-type ultimate weapon. The substances that composed the end dispersed at a particle level. Like dandelion seeds.

“Because of pests like you who keep interfering.”

The price of mockery.

“People around me get hurt.”

=Uaaaahhhh!=

Or it could also be called a threat.

“Even if one rips out the roots of those false gods, they keep appearing. Since they’ll appear anyway, I at least want to give them a warning, so they feel a chill when they meet my gaze.”

=N-nooo…!=

“It’s a warning letter written with your blood.”

In technical terms, his teabagging was excellent.

Kang Geom-Ma was nowhere near being a hero with a strong sense of justice.

He often clashed with nobles and even heads of state, constantly threatening them. He was the type who created enemies on his own.

And yet, people adored him. Not because of his violence.

“But because he is the Heavenly Sword.”

Because, in the end, he stood on the side of humanity.

When public enemies appeared as now, Kang Geom-Ma showed no mercy.

Kang Geom-Ma granted no cheap mercy. If someone provoked him, he cut them down. That was how he was known.

“Though lately he’s changed a little.”

Commentators said that since he formed a family, he had become calmer. And it was true.

Even during the Parsy incident, Kang Geom-Ma faced Ragnarok with a somewhat intimidated attitude. The media workers who replayed the video noticed a strange sensation.

The reporter brought the microphone to her lips.

“In terms of not causing conflicts, one could say he has matured compared to the past.”

Staring directly at the subcamera, she continued her report.

“But still. We all know, don’t we? The violence of Heavenly Sword has always been a means to break social inequality. Because nobles and heroes, those bastards, don’t listen to words. That’s why punishment is necessary.”

The cameraman flinched. The basic rule of journalism is neutrality. Of course, each network could have its leaning.

“It has always been that way. Kang Geom-Ma, the Heavenly Sword, has always stood on the side of humanity.”

It was a statement full of subjectivity. Ignoring the cameraman’s gesture of denial, the reporter kept speaking.

“I can’t say it with certainty, but considering his trajectory until now, I don’t believe he’ll ever turn into an enemy.”

“……!”

The cameraman jolted so hard the camera shook. It was because the reporter tore off the skin of her face. It was a magical disguise spell.

Come to think of it, it hadn’t been noticeable while she was sitting, but had reporter Kim always been that tall?

“I…”

She shook her head to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

“I dare to say it. The Heavenly Sword, Kang Geom-Ma, in the past, present, and future, will always be on your side. At least, under the premise that you’re not a threat to humanity.”

Choi Seol-Ah smiled brightly.

“To the nobles, to the heads of state, and to all of you watching this—stop putting obstacles in the way of the Heavenly Sword. Have you ever dirtied your feet in a crisis like this?”

The sunset light over the Han River illuminated Choi Seol-Ah’s face.

“You may want to deny the achievements of the Heavenly Sword, but it’s impossible. While you sat arguing, he was out there, wielding his sword and exterminating the enemy.”

Her earrings sparkled.

“There are no shortcuts to glory. The path Kang Geom-Ma has walked proves it.”

By that moment, the heart-wrenching screams of Kali Yuga could no longer be heard.

“That was all.”

Choi Seol-Ah threw the microphone. Bzzzzz, a buzz disturbed the listeners’ ears.

“This was Choi Seol-Ah, the public service girl!”

And she jumped from the helicopter.

With her arms spread like a cross, she fell against the resistance of the air.

“Wheeeee!”

She screamed with joy.

“Welcome back!”

Kang Geom-Ma lifted his head. He looked at her with puzzled eyes. Kali Yuga had vanished.

The helicopter was backing away.

Thanks to that, the cameraman was able to capture the entire scene with a wide view.

“…Who the hell is she?”

Even that critical gaze felt endearing to Choi Seol-Ah.

“Yoohoo!”

That overwhelming feeling.

“I’m not good with feelings because I’m a villain!”

Pushed her to act.

Instead of swallowing the words rolling in her mouth, she spat them out.

“But to my lord—!”

The half-destroyed buildings, with peaks like shark teeth, devoured the sunset.

== == == ==

NOTICE

We regret to announce this news to all who have loved Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd… (omission) …

== ==

She waved her hand as if brushing away the screen.

At one side, the glow of the Han River once again filled the scene.

Choi Seol-Ah shouted loudly.

“Looks like I liiiiike you a lot!”

The serenade of an obsessive fan was broadcast live to the entire world.