I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor - Chapter 87



Chapter 87

The brief flash unfurling from Baek Hwi-young’s spear tip was undeniably crude.

It stretched out in a straight line, devoid of any finesse, an attack so honest it bordered on the mundane.

Yet for Jin Crow and those who had reached a certain level, the flash he displayed was far from a mere assault.

‘Comet.’

The flash soon split into two beams of light.

It eradicated all resistance in a single point, ultimately shattering and illuminating the surroundings in a brilliant hue.

The beasts stained by the light were scorched, melting away into nothingness.

Whether it was due to the night or the insatiable hunger of the void that devoured all light, it was hard to tell, but the flash that brightened the darkened earth was not a mere display of skill from a cadet.

While Jin Crow, Satra, and Volk merely gazed in astonishment, the cadets were different.

“……Wow.”

“……What, what is that?”

They had been together for quite some time, even fighting side by side.

Perhaps that was why.

The disparity of power that Baek Hwi-young exhibited left Beatus, Hino Kanae, Dokgo Ran, and even Miel, all gazing at his back with eyes full of surprise.

Only Pamiyu managed to maintain some semblance of composure, as if she had anticipated this to some degree, yet even she could not help the tremor at the corners of her eyes.

“Don’t be dazed.”

The atmosphere was peculiar.

As soon as Jin Crow sensed it, he roused the cadets and everyone’s spirits with a voice laced with intentional irritation, then took a deep breath, his gaze settling low.

“Surely, you don’t intend to wait here until they come rushing in again?”

His words carried a clear edge, yet it was precisely that which forced them to confront reality.

Surely, if he had been a kind instructor, things would have been different.

With the weight of guilt for how things had come to this, alongside the burden of needing to survive somehow, he would have refrained from leading them into the jaws of death.

Perhaps he had even thrown himself into the fray to buy time alone.

Of course, Jin Crow had not been devoid of such thoughts. Though he had no intention of sacrificing his life, he had tried to help the cadets escape.

Yet from the moment escape became impossible, a dilemma followed him.

–

“Q. Prevent the destruction of the galaxy!”

■Objective

□Annihilation of the cosmic monstrosity

□Survival of the protagonist, ‘Baek Hwi-young’

□Survival of the possessor, ‘Jin Crow’

■Description

□Did you dislike the ending of the Galactic Chronicles? Become a character in the story and change the future!

□PS. The possessed character was randomly selected from those mentioned by the reader.

–

The first quest window he had seen after falling into this world resurfaced in his mind.

‘If only Baek Hwi-young and I could survive.’

As Jin Crow’s personality began to intertwine with his own, he found that, unlike before, he no longer harbored a great fear of losing his life. Yet, as a human, he could not be entirely indifferent to death.

Moreover, the justification was ample.

That quest seemed to suggest that, depending on interpretation, it was enough for just the ‘returner’ and ‘possessor’—Baek Hwi-young and himself—to survive and annihilate the creature.

But he could not bring himself to choose that option.

It was partly due to the sense of responsibility that came with being an instructor, and the unacknowledged affection that had grown between them, but more crucially, it was because if they died, saving only Baek Hwi-young would hold no meaning.

‘If I had known nothing, I might have abandoned those children in the name of the greater good.’

He had been a fervent reader of the original novel, “Galactic Chronicles,” for ten years, and thus he understood.

The knowledge and future that Baek Hwi-young had gained through his return might aid the war and steer it in a favorable direction, but the course of the war was predetermined for an individual acting alone.

There was no need to cite other examples.

In the story, Professor Lee Soo-jong, depicted as the foremost authority on creatures, had said this during a hearing:

– As an authority on creature research, knowing how serious the situation would become, why did you remain idle?

– …I issued warnings, but it was the media, the government, and the Ministry of Defense, indeed everyone, who ignored them. If you blame me now, I have no words left.

He lit a cigarette with an expression of utter exasperation, and despite his seemingly brazen demeanor, the reporters had nothing to retort.

As he said, Risujong always emphasized the threat of the creatures, but far too many sacrifices were needed for people to truly grasp it.

At last, he twisted his furrowed brow in irritation, roughly extinguishing the cigarette he had been smoking in the ashtray, and spoke.

— All I can say is to pour every ounce of humanity’s strength into the hands of the Star Riders. Those six generals.

— W-will that lead to victory?

— Victory?

Risujong let out a scoff, and in that moment, I recall the hearing came to an end.

He never appeared in public again after that, vanishing without a trace, as if he had been erased from the narrative itself.

Because of this, there was much debate among the devoted readers about his whereabouts, but that is not what matters now, so let’s set it aside.

“Don’t fall behind.”

Thus, to falter now would be an act of suicide.

Srrrung—.

Jin Crow drew his sword and stepped forward, realizing that there was no other way but to follow him, as did the cadets, Volk, and even Satra.

Thud—.

The debris of asphalt at their feet rolled down the slightly sloped road, and soon they gazed beyond the massive corpses of creatures that Baek Hwi-young had laid waste to.

— Krrrraaak!

— Kyaaah!

Baek Hwi-young’s flash had indeed unleashed overwhelming destruction, slaying a considerable number of creatures, but not all the beasts in the passage had perished.

Their regenerative abilities surpassed that of ordinary life forms, and those that had sustained wounds capable of healing soon transformed their pain into fury, blocking their path once more.

— Kuuur!

The ones that spat their foul green saliva charged at them in unison. The sight reflected in the eyes of the sparrow watching from the sky resembled nothing more than the futile struggles of humans resisting the demons of hell.

The earth tilted.

Cracks spread in every direction, the stench of blood hung thick in the air.

All around the streets lay flesh and bones, unidentifiable as either human or creature, while spinal cords flowed like rivers and organs lay open like fruit.

Just looking at it drained the spirit, instilling an involuntary fear.

It was not just the cadets.

Even Volk, unlike when facing Bishops or Lux, stared at the creatures with a look of disgust, and the remnants of Satra and the Lemaal Planetary Defense Force were no different.

“Remember this.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

Yet in that moment, only Jin Crow and Baek Hwi-young exchanged words as if the scene before them was entirely natural.

“From now on, you must grow accustomed to this sight.”

“I will remember.”

At last, the sea of creatures surged forth once more, ravenously engulfing them.

And in that very moment.

Chirp-.

The sparrow, flitting through the skies, its head and wings a flurry of motion, blinked as if to say it had fulfilled its duty.

*

“The drone has secured the location of Instructor Jin Crow and the cadets.”

“Understood.”

Seated in the chair, courtesy of the admiral, Ideale finally released her anxious grip on her bitten lip and spoke, casting her gaze over the lined-up military police, instructors, and the special operations unit of the Fourth Fleet.

“Board the assault ship.”

In that instant, all the special operations officers shivered involuntarily.

“I will go myself.”

Ideale Kukenhausen.

Pentagier special operations officer and hero of the Rocha Colony.

At last, the giant had stirred.

*

They reached the headquarters of the Mer Corporation, which was clearly the nest of the Queen, in less than an hour.

Most were nameless, low-grade mass-produced creatures, a chaotic mix of Phons and Knights, but with the seasoned Satras and remnants of the Lemal Planet Defense Force already adept at creature hunting, the threat was not as great with Baek Hwi-young and Jin Crow joining their ranks.

“Huuk. Ptooey!”

“…Hah. Cough.”

Yet, exhaustion was unavoidable.

However, upon arriving at the headquarters, they had no time to gather their weary bodies, forced instead to gasp in revulsion.

It was only natural.

The scene on the streets was equally horrific, but in this case, the texture was different.

It felt as if the corpses of creatures and humans alike had been forcibly dragged and smashed against the walls, glued together with no seams to be found.

Moreover, the flayed skins of people fluttering about were enough to provoke something beyond mere disgust.

“…”

Perhaps it was because they were now too weary to be shocked or repulsed.

They simply stared with distorted eyes at the half-collapsed exterior of the headquarters, where the fleshy masses had climbed.

‘Was it hastily assembled?’

Yet, Jin Crow swiftly observed the outer walls.

It would be a lie to say it was not unpleasant, but that was not what mattered now.

Originally, the nests created by the Queen take two forms.

One is a deliberate erosion of the planet itself, painstakingly transformed into an incubator, where the outer walls shimmer in a purplish hue, encircling the surroundings like a fortress, not made of flesh but of their very essence.

However, if it is merely a case of being strewn with the vitality and corpses of the surroundings…

‘Prey planet. Supply planet.’

It is as if they consume only the sweetly coated parts, spitting out the shell, focusing solely on the expansion of their dominion.

Thus, if things continue as they are, it is certain that the planet will wither away.

“We’re entering.”

“Ugh… hic!”

Miel’s expression, which seemed to hope for a retreat at his words, turned to one of despair, but unfortunately, there was no room for indulgence now.

Nor could they simply leave her behind.

Perhaps Miel understood this well, as she shook off her fear and followed closely between Beatus and Dokoran.

“Wow, this is intense.”

From noble mtl dot com

“…I agree.”

And as soon as they stepped into the lobby, Dokoran and Hino Kanae’s hushed murmurs echoed the sentiment of all present.

No, could such a scene be merely described as intense?

The interior, more cruelly adorned than the exterior, revealed the massive structure’s framework intact, yet the upper levels were gaping open, and in that void, a being with wings fully unfurled gazed down upon them.

—Death, oh my.

It looked down upon them with an arrogant and disdainful gaze, bursting forth with a purplish light.

And in that moment.

“It’s coming!”

The instant Jin Crow confirmed the creature’s wings twitching, he drew forth the pentacle and plunged it into his neck, then traced a long arc with his sword, covering his companions in its trajectory.

Kagagagagagagagah!

In that moment, thousands of feathers, melted like wax, surged down upon them like blades.